Florence School District 3 has announced three school-level administrative appointments for the 2026-2027 school year.
Cynthia Brown has been named interim principal of J.C. Lynch Elementary School, Melanie Dukes McKnight has been named principal of Lake City Early Childhood Center and Jacob Gilliard has been named principal of Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School.
“We are excited to welcome these outstanding educators into their new leadership roles,” Superintendent Dr. Shawn Suber said. “Each of these individuals brings a passion for student achievement and a deep commitment to serving children and families. I am confident that Ms. Brown, Mrs. McKnight and Mr. Gilliard will provide the leadership necessary to build upon the strong traditions of their schools while continuing to move our district forward.”
Ms. Brown is a dedicated educator with 35 years of experience in education. She began her career as a school counselor, supporting students' academic and social-emotional development.
She later served as a school principal for more than 15 years, providing strong leadership, overseeing school operations and promoting student achievement. Ms. Brown is known for her commitment to excellence, collaborative leadership style and passion for helping students and educators succeed.
She is highly skilled in adapting instructional strategies to meet diverse learning needs and has remained steadfast in her commitment to student achievement and well-being. Her extensive experience has strengthened her leadership abilities, allowing her to mentor colleagues, collaborate effectively with families and contribute meaningfully to school communities.
Mrs. Dukes McKnight is a graduate of Claflin University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education, and South Carolina State University, where she earned a master's degree in elementary education and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership.
During her nearly 29-year career in education, she has taught grades 2-6 in all subject areas and served in a variety of leadership roles, including academic coach, curriculum specialist, Title I facilitator and assistant principal. She most recently served as principal of Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School for the past four years.
Mrs. Dukes McKnight is married to Reginald McKnight and is the proud mother of three sons, mother-in-law to one daughter-in-law and grandmother to three grandsons.
Mr. Gilliard has served as assistant principal of Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Prior to joining OCASMS, he served for two years as assistant principal at Main Street Elementary School. He began his career in education at Savannah Grove Elementary School in Florence, where he taught fourth- and fifth-grade mathematics and science.
Mr. Gilliard takes great pride in building meaningful relationships with students, fostering a culture where everyone feels supported and valued and maintaining high expectations for teaching and learning. He believes strong relationships, coupled with a commitment to excellence, are essential to student success.
A graduate of West Florence High School, Mr. Gilliard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Claflin University and a Master of Education degree in educational leadership from Coastal Carolina University. He is also a graduate of Florence School District 3's Aspiring Leaders Program. His professional affiliations include Call Me MISTER and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Mr. Gilliard’s professional honors include the Call Me MISTER Visionary Leadership Award in 2019, Teacher of the Year for the 2020-2021 school year, Florence One Schools Teacher of the Year Honor Roll recognition in 2020-2021, Toyota of Florence Hometown Hero recognition in 2021 and selection as a top three finalist for Assistant Principal of the Year in 2024.
Gilliard is the oldest of three children and the only son of Sylvia Johnson.