Constance Goodwine-Lewis
Leading with L.O.V.E.
story by NAKEISHA DAWSON-THOMPSON photos by PAUL NURNBERG
In the heart of our charming seaside community, where dreams are nurtured and futures are shaped, stands a model of excellence in education. Meet Constance Goodwine-Lewis, an extraordinary educator whose unwavering dedication and innovative leadership have earned her the prestigious title of 2023 Elementary School Principal of the Year — an honor and privilege that she does not take lightly. During her career, she has offered an inspirational approach to education and has had a profound impact on her school and its students.
Constance Goodwine-Lewis, a native of Beaufort, SC, has captured the hearts of the community. She was born and raised in Beaufort to Donald and Joyce Goodwine. She is one of four children with siblings, Kwajralyn, Jimmy, and Donald Jr. Married to Ronald Lewis for 20 years, they share three beautiful children: Ronald III (Trey), Victoria, and Jasmine. Constance shares that her parents were young and worked hard to provide their children with a loving, safe environment. They also held their children to high expectations.
Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis is a member of St. Paul Baptist Church, where her father, Rev. Donald Goodwine Sr., is pastor, and her mother, Minister Joyce Goodwine, leads the youth ministry. The two are instrumental in instilling a solid Christian upbringing, leading to Constance’s faith in God, which shapes how she implements love in her daily walk throughout the halls of Broad River Elementary as the school’s principal. Faith and family have been a strong foundation for Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis’ success. She attributes her parents and grandparents to providing her with love, encouragement, and protection, all of which are conditions for her success.
Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis is a product of the community she was so affectionately planted in. She attended Beaufort Elementary, Lady’s Island Middle, and Beaufort High for 9th grade and graduated from Battery Creek High School in 1994. She holds a bachelor of arts in Elementary Education from Clemson University and two masters in Education, one in Special Education from Clemson University and one in Educational Leadership from Charleston Southern University.
Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis has 24 years as an educator in Beaufort County School District. Her teaching career began as a 3rd grade teacher at Joseph Shanklin Elementary and St. Helena Elementary schools. She then became an ESOL teacher for Coosa Elementary, Port Royal Elementary, and St. Helena Elementary schools. Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis next took the assistant principal position at Hilton Head Island School for Greater Arts for two years and then became the assistant principal at Broad River Elementary School for two years. Her leadership potential became increasingly evident. She displayed an exceptional rapport with the students and a knack for bringing out the best in her fellow educators. It was clear that Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis was destined for something greater. In 2008, she was appointed as the principal of Broad River Elementary School. With her characteristic passion and vision, she embarked on the transformative journey.
Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis states, “I have worked with extraordinary educators over the past 15 years who have dealt with extremes, such as a student losing a parent. Seeing your staff go out into the community to follow up and show up for students outside of the walls of the school has made an impact that words can’t measure.” After the COVID-19 pandemic, many staff were sent home to perform their duties via virtual platforms. However, most principals spent their days in their buildings preparing for this new way of teaching and learning, as this was not something anyone had previously experienced. She and her team went into beast mode, trying to prepare their students for success amidst the drastic change the nation was facing. With academic excellence as a priority, she emphasized to her staff the importance of nurturing the whole child. As a result, her students excelled academically and grew as individuals.
Joe the Starfish is the school’s mascot, named in honor of Mr. Joseph S. Shanklin Jr., the school’s founding principal. Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis has a saying to her students, “If you’re a Starfish, you’re going to learn today.” She is an ambassador for Educational Epiphany. She implemented the use of Google Classroom for the upper-grade levels and Seesaw for the lower-grade levels, along with Scholastic Literacy. She was able to partner with Scholastic to assist with having schoolbooks scanned in so that children could access their books online. Broad River Elementary is the first to pilot Scholastic Literacy nationwide. This curriculum has allowed for incredible results with the students.
Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis maintains a laser-like focus on teaching and learning. Her instructional leadership skills continuously lead to a double-digit percent increase in her school’s ELA and math scores on their state assessments. Also, being one of the longest-tenured principals in her school district affords her the joy of expanding the capacity of upcoming instructional leaders! She has led her school to educational success by leading with specific core values. Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis believes that all children should feel safe and loved. No child should have insecurities about safety, shelter, food, love, education, or opportunities. All children are entitled to the opportunity of receiving a good education.
Throughout her tenure as an educator, she has had some very influential relationships that have been instrumental in the success of her leadership techniques and her ability to reach individuals, providing them with the necessary tools for learning and growth. One of those instrumental individuals is Dr. Dennis McKesey, founder of In Our Best Interest, LLC. This mentorship led to the formation of the Off School Grounds Coalition (OSG). This nonprofit organization brings together principals nationwide and gives them a platform to collaborate, build, and empower each other to reach new heights in their educational leadership paths as well as pour into communities that are less fortunate. Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis is a founding member of the OSG and is proud of the accomplishments she has been involved in with the group, such as building a basketball court in Tanzania, Africa, for girls who desired to play but had no safe area to do so; and supporting “Lights On,” a program in New Jersey and New York that addresses food insecurities, allows the schools to remain open after hours to offer recreational activities, and provides tutoring to help keep students off the streets and away from violence.
Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the first black Greek-lettered organization for women, and is currently an active member of the local Nu Delta Omega graduate chapter. Her additional memberships include CHUMS, Inc., a nonprofit that focuses on enriching the lives of children by helping them to develop to their fullest intellectual, moral, emotional, physical, and social potential. She is also an active member of the community, serving where her roots began.
Constance Goodwine-Lewis is an inspiration to educators, parents, and students alike. Her unwavering dedication to the pursuit of educational excellence and her tireless efforts to create a nurturing and innovative environment have not only earned her the title of 2023 Elementary School Principal of the Year, but have also enriched the lives of countless students that have walked through the doors of Broad River Elementary School.
According to Mrs. Goodwine-Lewis, she strives to be the very best person and leader. “I L.E.A.D. (Love, Educate, Affirm, and Defend) with L.O.V.E (Leadership, Opportunity, Vision, and Expectation for Excellence). She is also thrilled to be the principal that this community built! As we celebrate her remarkable journey, we are reminded that in the world of education, the most profound impact is often made by those who believe in the limitless potential of every child.
