NEWS RELEASE — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Smith becomes River Bluff High’s principal
LEXINGTON, S.C. — During its meeting on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, the Lexington
County School District One Board of Trustees approved the promotion of Jacob N.
Smith III to principal of River Bluff High School. Smith replaces Luke Clamp, ED.D, who
becomes the district’s secondary schools director on July 1. A 19-year educator, Smith
has served as assistant principal of RBHS since 2013.
Smith began his teaching career in 2002 in Beaufort, South Carolina. He taught
science at the district’s alternative school and coached football at Beaufort High
School.
In 2003, he moved to Columbia to teach at Spring Valley High School in Richland
County School District Two. He taught science, health, physical education and
coached varsity football and track.
In 2006, Smith was promoted to assistant administrator at SVHS. He managed
disciplinary issues, observed teachers, implemented professional learning, and
assisted with transportation and special education needs.
Smith moved to Lexington School District Two in 2010 to serve as assistant principal of
Brookland–Cayce High School. A year later, he became the principal of BCHS.
During his tenure at BCHS, graduation rates went up 6.5% and end-of-course exam
scores increased in biology, algebra, English and U.S. history. Smith introduced a
communitywide mentoring program which supported students at risk of dropping out of
school.

In 2013, Smith joined Lexington District One as an assistant principal at River Bluff
High. In this role, he facilitated professional learning, evaluated and coached teachers,
oversaw student transportation, supported scheduling, and managed student services
such as discipline, safety, attendance and enrollment.
As a founding faculty member, Smith helped to develop and implement the
credentialed EL Education program. He also serves as special education and 504 lead,
assisting students with disabilities and their families. He developed an Emerging
Administrators Program at RBHS to offer leadership training and mentoring to staff.
Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education and a Master of Education in
educational leadership from the University of South Carolina.
He is a member of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators and the
National Association of Secondary School Principals.
He was named a “Lexington Leader” by Lexington Life magazine in 2020 and is a
graduate of Leadership Lexington. He serves as committee chair for Lake Murray
Young Life and on the board of Lexington’s “Kid’s Day” event.