Meet Deion

Deion Jamison hails from the tiny town of Vance, a tight-knit, rural community in South Carolina. He is a product of the Orangeburg County School District, graduating from Lake Marion High School. In 2013, he became the school’s first recipient of the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship, a full-ride award presented to America’s most promising minority leaders. This pivotal moment in Deion’s academic career significantly bolstered his passion for service and leadership.

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Matriculating to Clemson University, Deion initially pursued a major in Computer Science. However, his perspective shifted to sociology after recognizing the glaring disparities between groups within the state during a conversation about ACT scores with a peer. Believing that the best way to address inequality is through a high-quality education, Deion joined Teach For America and served his former school district as a middle school English teacher.

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While teaching in Orangeburg, Deion worked with students and their families to provide access to both academic and non-academic opportunities. He and his students established the school’s chapter of the National Beta Club, earning the distinction of a National School of Merit. In Deion’s second year of teaching, 100% of his students passed the English I End of Course examination, further demonstrating his commitment to their future.

 

Transitioning to high school teaching at Legacy Early College, Deion assumed various Teacher Leadership roles, including Grade Level Chair, founder and chairman of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team, and Professional Learning Community leader. During this time, he earned numerous awards, including the Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award from the National Council of Teachers of English and the Sue Lehmann Excellence in Teacher Leadership Award from Teach For America. Deion was voted as his school’s Teacher of the Year in 2020 and went on to become the 2021 District Teacher of the Year for the SC Public Charter School District, the first teacher from Legacy Early College to receive this distinction. In the same year, he earned his Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University to strengthen his practice in order to serve his students.

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In May 2022, Deion added to his list of accomplishments when he was announced as the 2023 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, breaking a glass ceiling to become the first Black man to earn this prestigious honor since the award's inception in 1956. Throughout his year of service, Deion advocated for equitable opportunities for all students, regardless of their backgrounds or zip codes. This commitment led to his appointment to the South Carolina Teacher Recruitment and Retention Task Force by Governor Henry McMaster, where he advocated for teacher leadership opportunities, increased compensation for teacher, and intensive support for early career educators.

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Deion is a graduate of the SC Education Policy Fellowship Program and Leadership South Carolina. He is a 2023 National ASCD Emerging Leader and member of the Diversity Leaders Initiative at the Riley Institute. Additionally, he is a fellow of the National Aspiring Principals Fellowship through New Leaders. After an incredible year of service, leadership, and learning, Deion returned to his alma mater, Lake Marion High, where he serves as a 9th grade English teacher and Instructional Coach. He is also the owner and principal consultant of Deion Jamison, LLC, where he works to improve student outcomes through creating engaging learning experiences for educators. His unwavering commitment to education and equity serves as an ongoing inspiration, shaping the future for both teachers and students alike.