by ERIN PARROTT
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As the 2026-2027 school year moves into full swing, the South Carolina State Board of Education (SCSBE) is continuing to discipline educators accused of misconduct – prompting the latest installment of FITSNews‘ ongoing ‘Educators Exposed‘ series.
During its September 2026 proceedings, the S.C. State Board of Education reviewed disciplinary matters involving seven certified educators statewide. Among the cases were two alleged breach-of-contract violations, one order of denial and one public reprimand. The remaining three cases resulted in suspensions, temporarily restricting the educators from holding or using their South Carolina teaching certificates.
In October 2026, the board addressed another round of disciplinary matters involving eleven (11) certified educators across South Carolina. The cases included two alleged breach-of-contract violations, two orders of denial, two public reprimands and two orders of permanent voluntary surrender. The board also considered three suspension orders – including one amended order – and one revocation.
The cases we’re tracking this month span six Palmetto State counties – Aiken, Chesterfield, Greenville, Horry, Lancaster, and York – as well as one educator that holds a South Carolina certificate from Georgia.
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KERRI DEXTER
- Type: Order of Suspension
- Date: September 1, 2026
- Certificate: 315884
- Allegation: Had an inappropriate relationship with a student resource officer during school hours and on school property.
- School: Wagener-Salley High School
- District: Aiken County Public School District
- Status: Certificate suspended for one year.
On September 30, 2025, the S.C. Department of Education (SCDE) learned that Kerri Dexter had resigned from the Aiken County Public School District following an investigation that determined she had an inappropriate relationship with a student resource officer during school hours and on school property.
According to the board’s order, Dexter’s actions constituted unprofessional conduct and provided just cause for disciplinary action against her South Carolina educator certificate. Dexter was notified of her right to a hearing regarding the possible suspension of her certificate in July 2026, but did not request one and was subsequently found to be in default.
Dexter – who has more than three years of educator experience and no prior disciplinary record with the S.C. State Board of Education – worked as a special education teacher at Wagener-Salley High School. On September 1, 2026, the board suspended Dexter’s educator certificate for one year, through August 31, 2027.
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BRIANNA LEIGH MCCARTER
- Type: Order of Suspension
- Date: September 1, 2026
- Certificate: 296109
- Allegation: Failure to supervise a special education student who left the school.
- School: York Comprehensive High School
- District: York County School District One
- Status: Certificate suspended for a period of two years.
On September 7, 2023, Brianna Leigh McCarter was placed on administrative leave from her position as a special education teacher at York Comprehensive High School after failing to supervise a special education student who left the school and was later found walking some distance away.
McCarter, an educator with more than four years of educator experience, resigned from York School District One later that month.
On September 1, 2026, the S.C. State Board of Education suspended McCarter’s educator certificate for two years after finding her conduct constituted unprofessional conduct. McCarter did not request a hearing and was found to be in default. Her suspension runs through August 31, 2028.
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CHRISTINE PEREZ-RUBIO
- Type: Order of Suspension
- Date: September 1, 2026
- Certificate: 313183
- Allegation: Inappropriately placed hands on a student by grabbing them by the arm.
- School: Grove Elementary School
- District: Greenville County School District
- Status: Certificate suspended for one year.
On October 11, 2023, Christine Perez-Rubio, a kindergarten teacher at Grove Elementary School in the Greenville County School District, allegedly placed her hands on a student inappropriately by grabbing them by the arm. Perez-Rubio has more than two years of educator experience and no prior disciplinary record with the S.C. State Board of Education.
On September 1, 2026, the board suspended Perez-Rubio’s educator certificate for one year after finding her actions constituted unprofessional conduct. Perez-Rubio did not request a hearing and was found to be in default. Her suspension runs through August 31, 2027.
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COURTNEY USHER BROWN
- Type: Consent Order of Permanent Voluntary Surrender
- Date: October 6, 2026
- Certificate: 281037
- Allegation: Arrested on two felony counts of sexual battery on a student and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
- District: Chesterfield County School District
- Status: Certificate voluntarily surrendered.
On March 24, 2023, the SCDE learned that Courtney Usher Brown, an educator with more than six years of teaching experience, had been arrested in Chesterfield County on two felony counts of sexual battery on a student and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
According to the consent order, Brown’s teaching certificate was summarily suspended on April 6, 2023, pending further disciplinary action. On August 10, 2026, Brown pleaded guilty to three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and agreed to permanently surrender her educator certificate as part of the plea agreement.
On October 6, 2026, the South Carolina State Board of Education accepted Brown’s permanent voluntary surrender, determining her conduct constituted unprofessional conduct, immorality, conduct involving moral turpitude and violations of state law.
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JAMEZ E. DUDLEY
- Type: Consent Order of Permanent Voluntary Surrender
- Date: October 6, 2026
- Certificate: 257704
- Allegation: Alleged violations of the laws and rules and regulations governing the practice of educators in Georgia.
- Status: Certificate voluntarily surrendered.
On September 11, 2025, the SCDE received a report from the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) indicating that disciplinary action had been taken against Jamez E. Dudley’s Georgia educator certificate following a complaint and investigation into alleged violations of the state’s laws, rules and regulations governing educators.
Dudley – who had more than ten years of teaching experience – voluntarily surrendered his Georgia teaching certificate following the investigation. At the time of the disciplinary proceedings in South Carolina, Dudley held an expired South Carolina educator certificate. The order did not specify the allegations that prompted the Georgia investigation.
On October 6, 2026, the S.C. State Board of Education accepted Dudley’s permanent voluntary surrender of his South Carolina educator certificate, determining his conduct constituted unprofessional conduct.
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HAILEY ELIZABETH ROSE ENSOR
- Type: Order of Public Reprimand
- Date: October 6, 2026
- Certificate: 313691
- Allegation: Left her mobile telephone unlocked and a student obtained a nude photograph of her from it and disseminated it to others.
- School: Myrtle Beach High School
- District: Horry County School District
- Status: Consent order of public reprimand accepted.
On March 28, 2023, Hailey Elizabeth Rose Ensor, a teacher at Myrtle Beach High School in Horry County, left her mobile phone unlocked, allowing a student to obtain a nude photograph of her and distribute it to others, according to an order issued by the South Carolina State Board of Education.
According to the order, Ensor, who held a valid South Carolina professional educator certificate and had less than one year of teaching experience, was notified by the SCDE on April 22, 2026, of possible disciplinary action against her certificate. Despite receiving notice of the proceedings, Ensor did not request a hearing and was subsequently placed in default.
On October 6, 2026, the board issued Ensor a public reprimand, determining that her failure to secure her mobile phone constituted unprofessional conduct. While the board found insufficient grounds to suspend or revoke her teaching certificate, it determined that a public reprimand was warranted. The disciplinary action will be reported to all South Carolina school districts and maintained as a public record.
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DAWN M. BARNES FLOYD
- Type: Order of Suspension
- Date: October 6, 2026
- Certificate: 323441
- Allegation: Forcibly pulled a student out of a classroom by the wrist.
- School: McDonald Green Elementary School
- District: Lancaster County School District
- Status: Certificate suspended for one year.
On February 19, 2026, Dawn M. Barnes Floyd, a teacher at McDonald Green Elementary School in Lancaster County, forcibly pulled a student out of a classroom by the wrist.
According to the order, Barnes Floyd had less than one year of teaching experience and no prior disciplinary history. On April 22, 2026, she was notified of possible disciplinary action against her teaching certificate but failed to request a hearing.
On October 6, 2026, the S.C. State Board of Education voted to suspend Barnes Floyd’s teaching certificate for one year, determining her actions constituted unprofessional conduct.
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AUSTEN TAYLOR SMITH
- Type: Order of Revocation
- Date: October 2, 2026
- Certificate: 294918
- Allegation: Posted nude photographs of himself on his X (Twitter) account.
- Status: Certificate revoked.
On December 9, 2022, the SCDE learned that Austen Taylor Smith, an educator with more than three years of teaching experience, had posted nude photographs of himself on his Twitter account.
According to the order, Smith held an expired South Carolina educator certificate and was notified of possible disciplinary action on October 2, 2024. Despite receiving notice of the proceedings, Smith did not request a hearing and was subsequently placed in default.
On October 6, 2026, the South Carolina State Board of Education voted to revoke Smith’s teaching certificate. Under the terms of the order, Smith may reapply for certification after three years but must undergo a character and fitness review, including background checks, before being considered for reinstatement.
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CAROL SMITH
- Type: Consent Order of Public Reprimand
- Date: October 6, 2026
- Certificate: 236476
- Allegation: Confronted a male student by pushing desks out of the way, one of which forced the student into a corner.
- School: W.C. Sullivan Middle School
- District: Rock Hill School District in York County.
- Status: Consent order of public reprimand accepted.
While employed as a teacher at W.C. Sullivan Middle School in Rock Hill, Carol Smith lost her patience with a male student and confronted him by pushing desks out of the way, one of which forced the student into a corner. According to a consent order issued by the South Carolina State Board of Education, Smith then told the student, “Don’t play with me. Do you understand.” The order did not specify when the incident occurred.
Smith – who has more than twelve years of teaching experience and no prior disciplinary history – was notified of possible suspension of her teaching certificate on March 5, 2026, but subsequently agreed to a public reprimand instead. Smith also completed a prevention and correction course.
On October 6, 2026, the S.C. State Board of Education accepted Smith’s consent order of public reprimand, determining her actions constituted unprofessional conduct.
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FITSNews will continue monitoring disciplinary actions taken by the South Carolina State Board of Education – examining educator misconduct, the institutions tasked with oversight and the circumstances that allow such incidents to occur.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Erin Parrott is a Greenville, S.C. native who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2025 with a bachelor degree in broadcast journalism. Got feedback or a tip for Erin? Email her here.
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