Former state superintendent and first woman elected dies, agency says

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – The first woman elected to South Carolina’s top education position has died, according to the state Department of Education.

Current State Superintendent Ellen Weaver called Dr. Barbra S. Nielsen an ‘education champion.’

“Today, South Carolina has lost an education champion, and I have lost a dear friend and mentor. Barbara believed fiercely in the God-given potential of every student and dedicated her life to equipping them to reach it,” Weaver explained.

Dr. Nielsen was the 14th person to hold the position, serving from 1991 to 1999. One of her most notable achievements was developing and pushing forward the Education Accountability Act in 1998.

She also spearheaded legislation that established the first full-day and statewide kindergarten program and legislation that allowed for the creation of charter schools, according to the agency.

“Even in retirement, she never stopped fighting for students and teachers, most recently chairing SC’s Teacher Recruitment and Retention Taskforce in 2023. Her wit and wisdom will be greatly missed, but her shining legacy lives on forever in the lives of the students and state she served,” Weaver explained.

Before she became the state superintendent, Dr. Nielsen served for thirty years in the education system.

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