Columbia, S.C. — Today, lifelong educator and education advocate Lisa Ellis officially announced her candidacy for South Carolina Superintendent of Education in the 2026 election. Ellis previously ran in 2022.
“South Carolina’s children deserve safe, strong schools, and our teachers deserve respect and fair pay,” Ellis said. “As both a current classroom teacher and student activities director, I live the realities of our education system every single day. I’m running because the voices of students, families, and educators must come before partisan politics.”
Ellis has spent her career teaching in Midlands schools and currently serves as Student Activities Director at Blythewood High School. She is the founder of SC for Ed, the grassroots advocacy organization that brought more than 10,000 teachers to the Statehouse in 2019 to demand better pay, smaller class sizes, and stronger support for public education.
She said her candidacy centers on four core priorities:
- "Classroom Credibility: Real leadership from someone who continues to teach and understands students’ needs.
- Teacher Retention & Pay: Tackling the teacher shortage by ensuring competitive pay and professional respect.
- Safe & Supportive Schools: Advocating for solutions to reduce gun violence, support student well-being, and strengthen school safety.
- Strong Public Schools for All: Standing against privatization and voucher efforts from out-of-state moneyed interests who have no grounding in the classroom and protecting every child’s right to a high-quality education regardless of zip code."
“In 2026, this race is about a simple choice: Do we want education driven by extreme agendas, or do we want leadership grounded in the classroom, fighting for every child’s future?” Ellis asked. “I believe South Carolina families will choose students, teachers, and strong public schools.”
Ellis has received honors such as Student Council Advisor of the Year, Columbia Business League Phenom, and received endorsements in 2022 from leaders like U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn and former State Superintendent Jim Rex.
The campaign will begin its statewide launch this fall, with Ellis appearing all across South Carolina to share her vision directly with voters while keeping her full-time job as Student Activities Director at Blythewood High School in Blythewood.
For more information, visit www.ellisforsc.com and follow the campaign on social media @LisaEllisforSC.