ABOUT US |
The South Carolina Association of Title I Administrators (SCATA) was founded 59 years ago with the purpose of:
- Providing opportunities to communicate with other professionals;
- Promoting the exchange of ideas on programs and activities in the various districts;
- Facilitating program improvements; and
- Encouraging priority students from South Carolina high schools to further their post high school education.
Membership in the association is open to education professionals who have responsibility for the administration of federal education programs provided for under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), and its amendments. The most current amendment is the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.
View our BYLAWS. (pdf)
SSCATA Officers
SCATA OFFICERS
PRESIDENT Mrs. Johni McElveen
Johni has been an educator for 15 years. During her professional career she has been an elementary, an Enterprise Learning Coach with the Race to the Top grant for 3 years, and served in the role as a STEM Instructional Coach and Elementary Curriculum Coordinator where she led teachers at the elementary level with creating dynamic and engaging lessons linking the core content with STEM standards. Johni served the Berkeley County School District as a Coordinator of Federal and State Programs. In her role as a district coordinator, she assists in the management and implementation of ESEA grants as well as school improvement grants. Most recently, Johni has joined the Williamsburg County School District as their Coordinator of Testing and Accountability. Johni has shared her expertise by presenting at conferences at the national, state, and local level. Johni is a graduate of Charleston Southern University where she received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s Degree in Elementary Administration and Supervision. | VICE PRESIDENT Mrs. Karen Cook
Karen currently serves as the Special Revenue Coordinator for Lexington School District One and has an extensive background in federal programs. She started her education career as a middle school math teacher but it transformed 12 years ago when she joined the Office of Federal and State Accountability at the SCDE. Over her 10 years at the SCDE, Karen served in multiple roles to include State Title II Coordinator, Consolidated Finance and Applications Team Program Manager, and Team Leader for the Consolidated Oversight and Monitoring Team. Karen also worked two years as the Executive Director of Federal Programs at the Charter Institute at Erskine. She is a 12 year member of SCATA and NAFEPA, a former member of NAESPA, and current LEA Affiliate Member of NAESPA. Karen was honored to receive the NAFEPA State Leadership Award in 2017 for her contributions to federal programs in South Carolina. | SECRETARY/TREASURER Ms. Emily Caskey
Emily Caskey brings more than 21 years of experience in education and currently serves as the Coordinator of Title I Compliance and Family Engagement for Richland School District Two. Throughout her career, Emily has been committed to strengthening educational programs that support students most in need, ensuring that federal and state resources are implemented with fidelity, transparency, and impact. Emily began her career in the classroom as an elementary educator and has since served in a variety of leadership roles focused on federal programs, compliance, family engagement, and strategic program development. In her current role, she works closely with district leaders and school teams to ensure effective implementation of Title I and other federally funded initiatives, with a strong emphasis on building sustainable systems that improve outcomes for students at risk. | PAST-PRESIDENT Dr. Anna Brink
Anna holds degrees from Wofford College (B.A.), the University of South Carolina (M.Ed.), and Clemson University (Ph.D.). Anna began her career at Dutch Fork Middle School in Lexington/Richland School District 5. After returning to her hometown of Laurens, SC, she spent 13 years in Laurens County School District 55, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and Director of Federal Programs, Accountability, and Professional Development. Currently, Anna is the Director of Federal Programs for Greenville County Schools. She is active in the South Carolina Association of School Administrators Grants and Federal Programs Roundtable and is a past conference chair for the SCASA i3 Conference Committee. Additionally, Anna enjoys being an adjunct professor at Clemson University. On a personal note, Anna cherishes her role as a mother to Dylan (17) and Will (14) and as a wife to Jeff, a middle school teacher in Greenville County Schools. She is honored to serve on the SCATA Board to advocate for all students to reach their full potential and provide networking opportunities for educational leaders in SC. |
SCDE LIAISON
Mrs. Jewell Stanley
Jewell Stanley is the Director of the Office of Federal and State Accountability at the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). As the Director, she oversees all federal education grants under ESSA, ensuring fiscal and programmatic compliance. Before becoming the Director, her roles included serving as the Assistant Director for the office and as state coordinator of Titles I, II, and IV. Throughout her 31 years in education, she has worked with and advocated for Title I students. She was a teacher and principal of a Title I school for 16 years before beginning her work with the South Carolina Department of Education. Jewell is the SCDE Liaison to the South Carolina Association of Title I Administrators. In addition, she is a member of the National Association of ESEA State Administrators, where she serves as the Treasurer and member of the Conference Planning Committee.
Congratulations to the SC NAFEPA 2026 Leadership Award Recipients
Mrs. Kristy Cansler, Chief of Federal Programs
The Charter Institute at Erskine
Ms. Theresa Gregory, Education Associate
SCDE, Office of Federal and State Accountability