Dr. Joya Holmes joins Rock Hill Schools’ administrative team July 1 when she becomes the district’s new Executive Director of Professional Learning and School Choice.
In her new role, Holmes will oversee, assess, and modify teacher professional learning to ensure district and individual needs are met. Additionally, she will lead our district in further developing Professional Learning Communities and collaborate with many stakeholders to implement and maintain services and programs. As the district continues to offer more professional learning opportunities, Holmes will develop short and long-range plans while analyzing the most effective delivery systems for content that will prepare the district’s more than 1,200 teachers to lead modern classrooms.
Holmes, who has been in Rock Hill Schools since 2002, will replace Rich Melzer who has been with the district for more than 10 years. After graduating from Furman University in 2002, Holmes began her teaching career as an English/Language Arts teacher at Saluda Trail Middle School. Since 2008, she been an instructional coach at Dutchman Creek Middle School. In her final year at Dutchman Creek, she was recognized by her peers as the school’s teacher of the year.
Holmes holds advanced degrees from Winthrop University and Gardner-Webb University. Her doctoral research focused on middle school students’ perceptions of teacher style and effectiveness.