Diane Middleton is a candidate for the Horry County Schools Board of Education (District 3). She stepped forward to run because South Carolina voters deserve a real choice on the ballot. Too many races go uncontested, and she believes the community deserves open dialogue, accountability, and a clear vision for stronger public schools.

Diane has proudly called Horry County home for more than 10 years. She values the community deeply and believes more must be done to improve the quality of life for young people. She is committed to ensuring that students grow up with hope, opportunity, and stability in an increasingly complex world.

With more than 30 years of experience as an elementary school educator, Diane has dedicated her life to excellence in education. She taught grades 1–6 in both affluent school systems, including Fairfax County, Virginia, and in underserved communities in Washington, D.C. Her favorite grades were second and fourth, where she saw firsthand the importance of early education.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master’s in Education from Cambridge College in Massachusetts.

After leaving the classroom, Diane became a Reading Specialist, helping struggling students reach—and exceed—grade-level expectations. She also became certified in Creative Writing and proudly published anthologies highlighting her students’ work.

As a Resource Teacher, Diane mentored fellow educators, led professional development initiatives, and contributed to curriculum improvements across multiple schools. Throughout her career, she received “Outstanding” evaluations, participated in superintendent roundtables, and served on district textbook selection committees.

One of her proudest accomplishments was helping launch and lead a successful public charter school serving grades K–3. The school exceeded district benchmarks in parental involvement, student attendance, school climate, curriculum development, and academic achievement.