Damon Qualls Recognized as Greenville’s “Best and Brightest 2018”

Damon Qualls, principal of Monaview Elementary School, has been recognized as one of Greenville Business Magazine’s Best & Brightest 2018, presented by Furman University.

“I believe in the importance of teacher quality and staff morale to promote both student achievement and a positive learning and working environment,” said Qualls. “With coined hashtags #MonaviewMoments and #loveSCschools, as well as collaborations with DonorsChoose.org, Public Education Partners, and the United Way of Greenville County, community engagement proves to be an essential component to the success of public schools.”

This year’s selection committee includes Dr. Judith Prince, professor emerita at USC Upstate; Wendy Walden, associate vice president of executive affairs at Greenville Technical College; and Mike Posey, vice president of marketing and communications at the United Way of Greenville County.

“Greenville is in good hands with the outstanding young professionals in Greenville Business Magazine’s 2018 Best and Brightest,” Dr. Prince says. “Greenville has so much to be proud of, including the young professionals who are committed to making this community the best possible.”

Damon Qualls has provided a statement on this recent recognition:

My lifelong dream has been to serve as a public-school educator. From years playing school as a child to tutoring opportunities in grade school, I ultimately began my career through acceptance into the very first cohort of Clemson University’s Call Me MISTER Program.

After graduation from Benedict College in 2004, I ventured to the Upstate to begin teaching. After two years, my colleagues selected me as Teacher of the Year, leading to being named first runner-up as Greenville County Schools’ Teacher of the Year. Earning master’s degrees from Columbia College and Southern Wesleyan University and now with more than a decade of teaching and administrative experience, I am now the proud principal of Monaview Elementary School.

I’ve been extremely blessed to hold numerous national, state, and district leadership roles, which have pointed to exciting opportunities with Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Colbert, and Harvard University’s Principals’ Institute.

I believe in the importance of teacher quality and staff morale to promote both student achievement and a positive learning and working environment. With coined hashtags #MonaviewMoments and #loveSCschools, as well as collaborations with DonorsChoose.org, Public Education Partners, and the United Way of Greenville County, community engagement proves to be an essential component to the success of public schools.