Lowcountry officials earn state honors

Two Lowcountry officials received awards at the South Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools seventh annual statewide conference this weekend.

Larry DiCenzo, principal of Orange Grove Elementary Charter School in Charleston County, was recognized as the public charter school administrator of the year. Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, was recognized as legislator of the year.

The awards were presented at a Saturday luncheon at the College of Charleston, the site of the statewide conference.

DiCenzo was the force behind Orange Grove Elementary converting to a charter school, and he helped make the transition an efficient one, said David Church, executive director of the state Association of Public Charter Schools. The West Ashley school has won numerous awards under DiCenzo's leadership, and Church called DiCenzo the finest school administrator that he has worked with in his 43-year career.

McConnell received the award for steering significant charter school legislation through the General Assembly, particularly the law that created the South Carolina Public Charter School District. The new statewide district gives charter schools an alternative route to seek approval, and that board has authorized five schools that are expected to open this fall.

McConnell also had a part in the charter school legislation that applies only to Charleston County. The law requires the school district not to deny to charter schools anything that is otherwise available to public schools, and Church called the mandate a model for the state.

"Rarely do we find a legislator who is such a strong ally for school choice and accountability," he said.