Administration

Dr. Monica Adams 

I am Dr. Monica T. Adams, a proud product of Richland County School District One, attending Satchel Ford Elementary School, W G. Sanders Middle School and graduating from W. J. Keenan High School. Upon graduating from W, J. Keenan High School, I attended South Carolina State University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, a master's degree in Education from Cambridge College, a  Educational Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision from Converse College, and an Educational Doctorate Degree in Educational Administration from South Carolina State University.

I have had the pleasure of being in education for 30 years, where I have served as an administrator and as a teacher of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students in Richland County School District One. I am an endorsed Transformational Leader from South Carolina Department of Education and have been awarded National Board Certification, Social Studies Distinguished Teacher of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and the Living the Legacy Award.

I am married to my high school sweetheart and the mother of three adult sons; all who are graduates of Richland County School District One.  I strongly believe that students don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care, therefore I am passionate about building positive relationships and making connections with all stakeholders.

Devin Tanis

Hello Everyone! My name is Devin Tanis and I serve as your Assistant Principal for grades 4K- 2nd Grade. This is my first year with the Carver- Lyon Elementary School community. This will be my 8th year in education, but I began my journey with Richland One 5 years ago at Caughman Road Elementary School. There, I taught 5th grade, 3rd grade, and my last two years, I served as the Curriculum Resource Teacher. As a curriculum resource teacher, I provided professional development to teachers, as well as curriculum and instructional support for all teachers in Pre-K through 5th grade. While there, I also served as team lead in 3rd grade and was named Teacher of the Year during the 2021-2022 school year.

I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University. In addition, I am middle school math certified and Read to Succeed endorsed.

In my time away from school, I enjoy a balance of being outdoors and exploring the community around me as well as enjoying a good book inside with my 2 dogs and 2 cats. I believe that all children are unique and come to us with different learning styles and needs. It is my job to help create an environment where students feel safe and cared for so they can grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. My goal is to assist all stakeholders so that all students reach their highest potential, so that they can be life-long learners and their most successful selves. I am here to support our families, teachers, and students in any way that I can. We are stronger together! I am excited and proud to be a part of the Carver-Lyon community and can’t wait to see how much growth we make together!

Dr. Cicely Maxwell

Greetings! My name is Cicely Maxwell, and I will serve as Assistant Principal for grades 3rd-5th. I am excited to join the Carver-Lyon Elementary School family. I began my teaching career as a third-grade teacher at Horrell Hill Elementary School, where I served as a grade-level team leader, literacy leader, and leadership team member. I also served as a University of South Carolina Coaching Teacher and was named Teacher of the Year during the 2014-2015 school year. I have also worked as a Richland One Summer Learning Academy Site Administrator for eight years at several schools across the district. I came to Carver-Lyon from Edward E. Taylor Elementary School, where I served as the Curriculum Resource Teacher. In this role, I provided curriculum and instructional coaching support for teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth.  

I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Charleston, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina. I am also a graduate of the Leadership Columbia Class of 2002. 

I have a wonderful and supportive family, and my husband and I have one son. I believe anyone can achieve great things with a positive attitude, a growth mindset, and good character. I strive to instill those qualities in our young people and be a positive role model. I aim to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment that challenges our students to surpass their expectations to become lifelong learners who will make the world a better place. As a member of the Carver-Lyon family, I join in the partnership of all stakeholders involved in working together to ensure that our students experience success each day. I am excited about this school year's possibilities and am proud to be part of the Carver-Lyon family. Let's have a great school year.  

Team One, One Team. One Team, One Dream.