Dr. Craig Witherspoon 

Areas of Expertise: Family and Community Engagement, Leadership, Motivational Speaking, Strategic Planning 

Dr. Craig Witherspoon is superintendent of Richland County School District One, in South Carolina. His professional experiences include being an instrumental music teacher, a middle and high school principal, an instructional improvement officer, and a superintendent for 16 years, working in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and South Carolina. Since Dr. Witherspoon began his tenure in Richland One in 2015, the district’s graduation rate has climbed to record-high levels and consistently surpassed the state average, and numerous innovative programs have been implemented to help prepare students for college and careers. 

In addition, Richland One launched the state’s first high school commercial driver’s license training program; is one of only six nationwide. Richland One was also the first South Carolina school district to offer all 16 nationally recognized career clusters. Also, Richland One has increased the number of 3K and 4K classrooms and expanded magnet and choice programs for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, including Montessori programs, language immersion programs, career magnet programs and virtual school programs. Dr. Witherspoon has presented at numerous national conferences, sharing district programs and progress.  

Dr. Witherspoon has a Doctorate in Administration and Policy Studies from George Washington University, Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University, and Bachelor of Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University.  

Dr. Witherspoon published SEL Takes Centerstage on how introducing a district wide system of supports leads to better outcomes.