OFFICERS     l     MEMBERS     l     COMMITTEES

	CISSC BOARD MEMBERS
Joyce Farr Cheeks		Joyce Farr Cheeks is an attorney and the principal shareholder in the Law Office of Joyce Farr Cheeks, P.C. Before going into private practice, Ms. Cheeks served as Judicial Law Clerk to The Honorable Alexander M. Sanders, Jr., Chief Judge, South Carolina Court of Appeals, from 1989 to 1990. Before that, she served as Staff Attorney for the South Carolina Court of Appeals and as General Counsel and Acting Deputy Director for the South Carolina Children's Foster Care Review Board System. After 16 years in private law practice, Ms. Cheeks returned to the public interest arena, bringing her legal acumen and administrative skills to the task of Interim Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina (ACLUSC), at a critical time in the struggle for civil liberties in South Carolina and the nation. As the Interim Executive Director of the ACLUSC, the state's guardian of liberty, Ms. Cheeks works daily in our courts, in the General Assembly, and in our local communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberty guaranteed to all people in South Carolina by the Constitutions and the laws of the United States and of South Carolina. Ms. Cheeks brings more than 21 years of professional legal and business experience to Communities In Schools of South Carolina, Inc. She is a graduate of South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C., where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics. Ms. Cheeks earned Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Law Degrees from the University of South Carolina in 1985.
Meda Cobb		Meda Cobb is currently employed as Superintendent of Education of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice School District. In this position, Ms. Cobb is responsible for oversight of educational programs involving incarcerated and some community placed students throughout South Carolina. These programs are operated by both DJJ and private providers and are located in 22 counties. Prior to employment at DJJ in July of 1972, she taught for four (4) years in public schools. During her tenure at DJJ (beginning in July of 1972), Ms. Cobb served as a guidance counselor at Birchwood High and Willow Lane Middle Schools and as principal of both schools. In 1995, she became assistant superintendent of education at DJJ and was in that position for eight (8) years. During those eight years, she also served concurrently as interim superintendent for three (3) years (October 1996 through August 1999) and again for six (6) months in 2003. She is very involved with the State Department of Education in working to implement more effective and efficient services for this underserved population. She served as a principal assessor for twelve (12) years with the Office of School Leadership. She is involved with several professional organizations to include serving on Communities In Schools of South Carolina, Inc. board and roundtable groups with colleagues in the public school sector. She is also very knowledgeable about juvenile justice and at-risk education issues.
Sam Drew		Dr. Sam Drew’s career in education spans 34 years. His professional experiences include elementary school teacher, elementary school principal, special assistant in the United States Department of Education, Deputy Director of Education in the SC Governor’s Office, Superintendent of the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, a state supported school in South Carolina, and Superintendent of a county school system in South Carolina. Sam served as SC State Director of Adult Education for eight years before joining the Adult Literacy Media Alliance in New York as Director of State Partnership Development. In July of 2002, he joined the National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University as Associate Director for Research and Evaluation. Dr. Drew holds a B.S. degree in Psychology, a M.Ed. degree in Elementary Education and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Pual Harrill		Paul Harrill is a native South Carolinian. In 1971, Paul moved with his family to the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, where he received his primary and secondary education. Thereafter, Paul attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia. After graduation from William and Mary, Paul returned to South Carolina. He worked for a year and then attended the University Of South Carolina School Of Law. After receiving his law degree, Paul served as law clerk to The Honorable James E. Lockemy. At the completion of his clerkship, he joined McNair Law Firm, P.A. in 1992, and was elected as Shareholder of the Firm in March of 1998. Paul is a member of the South Carolina Bar, American Bar, Richland County Bar, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association, and the Litigation Section of the American Bar. Paul is also a member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. Paul’s community activities include membership in the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of Communities In Schools of South Carolina, Inc., member of Shandon Presbyterian Church, and active membership in and Treasurer of the Rosewood Educational Foundation. Paul is married and has two children.
Jim Rhodes (Photo currently unavailable)		Jim Rhodes is a native of Birmingham, Alabama where he was educated in the public school system. After honorable service to the United States Air Force he was employed with BellSouth and attended the University of Alabama, Birmingham with a major in Engineering. Jim Rhodes started with BellSouth in 1964 and has held various management positions of increasing responsibility within the 9 state region. Until his recent retirement he held the position of Area Manager - Centers and supported Network Operations in South Carolina and Georgia. Jim has been active in community affairs for many years. Jim joined Communities In Schools of South Carolina, Inc, board in 1999, was selected for the Chairman’s Award for 2001-2002, was elected CIS Board Chairman 2005 and 2006, served as Past Board Chair and on the Executive Committee. Jim has been a member of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce since 1993. He is also Vice - Chair of Carolina Sunshine, an organization that provides wishes to children of South Carolina with life threatening diseases. Jim serves on the South Carolina Youth Challenge Foundation Board, is a member of the Spring Valley Rotary Club, serves on American Legion Post 6 Executive Board and has recently been appointed to the 263rd AAMDC Regiment Scholarship and Family Care Association Inc. Board of Directors. He is an active member of the South Carolina Military Department Joint Services Detachment, where he has attained the rank of Lt. Colonel.

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