Meet the Team!

Emily P. Caskey, Ed.S.

MSAP Project Director

The MSAP Project Director, Emily P. Caskey, has been a classroom teacher and educator for more than 13 years. A proud graduate of Richland Northeast High School and product of Richland School District Two, Miss Caskey enjoyed her early years in education teaching fourth grade at McCormick Elementary School. From McCormick, she returned to Richland Two and taught fifth grade at Conder Elementary Arts Integrated Magnet School. Emily’s belief in doing what’s best for kids each day has remained paramount both in the classroom and beyond. She believes in serving others and leading with a servant based mindset. Emily managed the implementation of the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top grant in Richland Two prior to becoming the Project Director for the Med Pro 21 project. Miss Caskey holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, M.Ed. in Divergent Learning, Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, and certifications in Elementary Education and School Administration.

Jennifer Rushing, M.Ed.

Project Recruitment

and Implementation Coordinator

Jennifer Rushing has been an educator for 16 years. Starting her career teaching in kindergarten, first grade and second grade classrooms helped her to develop a love for inquisitive and excited learning for students. She is now committed to bringing that excitement to learning experiences for all students, regardless of age or background. Jennifer spent the past four years as a Digital Resource Coach, working closely with teachers K-8 to intentionally integrate technology into their instruction, before joining the Med Pro 21 Project team. As the recruitment and implementation coordinator Jennifer works with all four Med Pro 21 schools to ensure equity in opportunities for the students in the Med Pro continuum and ensure all families in Richland School District Two are aware of the opportunities the continuum has available Jennifer holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master’s in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.

Marian Simmons

Magnet Curriculum Specialist, MED at Bridge Creek Elementary

Marian Simmons has been an educator for 13 years. She has taught Pre-Kindergarten, 2nd, and 3rd Grade. She is fully committed to student excellence, and her passion for education continues to grow with each year. She is a military child and has traveled to many places, including Germany, but she has called South Carolina her home for 25 years now. She received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Lander University in 2007, and her Master of Science in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, K-12th Grade from Walden University in 2012. As the Magnet Curriculum Specialist for MED at BCE, she works closely with educators to help provide diverse learning opportunities for students to succeed through medical, engineering, and arts immersion.

Nikki Gilmore Ed.S

Magnet Curriculum Specialist, SAiL at Rice Creek Elementary

Nikki Gilmore has been in education for 20 years. Seventeen of these years have been in Richland School District Two. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of South Carolina, Bachelor of Arts in Education from Columbia College, a Master of Arts in Divergent Learning from Columbia College, and Education Specialist in Administration from Cambridge College. Nikki is a National Board Certified teacher in Middle Childhood. In her free time, Nikki enjoys singing in her church choir, making hair bows, hanging out with friends and family, and going to Zumba! Nikki is excited to take on this new role as the Magnet Curriculum Specialist at Rice Creek after teaching fifth grade there for the past four years.

Ellen Harrison

Magnet Curriculum Specialist - AiMS at Ridge View High School

Mrs. Harrison has a Bachelor and Master of Arts in Education. She received National Board Certification in Career and Technology Education: Arts and Communication in 2008. Mrs. Harrison manages the Med Pro 21: Healthcare for a Caring Community grant for AiMS. Among her many accolades, she was recognized as the South Carolina Dance Educator of the Year in 2002 and Ridge View High School Teacher of the Year in 2005. In 2006, she contributed in the writing of the Teaching Dance as Art in Education: Human Kinetics. In 2007, she co-founded the program MOVES which includes unique dance classes designed specifically for children with special needs. She has served on writing committees focused on curriculum and assessment for the South Carolina State Department of Education and the Arts in Basic Curriculum Project. As an active member of the school’s Leadership Team, she has been instrumental in developing and revising the school’s mission statement and vision. Mrs. Harrison is accustomed to managing frequent projects, so her ability to brainstorm, plan, organize, and implement with a diverse group at Ridge View is seamless as she oversees the development of AiMS with attention to fidelity.

Frederica Canty

MSAP Grant Administrative Assistant

With more than 25 years of office professional experience, Mrs. Frederica Canty is a fundamental key to the work of the Med Pro 21 project in Richland School District Two. Mrs. Canty has had the opportunity to work within both state government and private administrations. Through her work in the public sector, Mrs. Canty has been afforded the opportunity to render support service while gaining a substantial amount of knowledge and experience. Her responsibilities with the Med Pro 21 project include maintaining the executive calendar, creating purchase orders in compliance with district procurement practices, monitoring grant budgets, creating and managing expenditure spreadsheets for grant administration along with the project's cohort of schools, assisting the Project Director with daily grant management, corresponding with in-district and external partners regularly, and coordinating senior and support level staff meetings, as well as assisting with all site based needs