Lexington One Alternative Program Coordinator Retiring

Jim "Coach" Harpe, the coordinator of Lexington One's alternative program, FOCUS, is retiring June 30, the district announced Thursday. 

“Jim Harpe has devoted his entire career to improving the lives of children," Superintendent Karen Woodard said. "For the last 16 years, he worked to create the district’s alternative ‘second chance’ program dedicated to providing educational opportunities to at-risk students from across the district enrolled in our FOCUS program."

Harpe, who has served as coordinator of FOCUS since 1996, has 38 years of experience as an educator. He began his career as a physical education teacher and football, wrestling and tennis coach at Brookland-Cayce High School in Lexington Two. He joined Conway High School in 1981 as a physical education teacher and football coach.

In 1983, Harpe joined Lexington One as head football coach and athletic director at Pelion High School. He joined Lexington Middle School in 1990 as a physical education teacher and was promoted to assistant principal in 1993.

He was honored in 2009 by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators as its South Carolina Alternative Director of the Year.

A founding member of SCASA’s Alternative Roundtable, he served as chair of the roundtable for three years. Harpe is president of the Lexington SERTOMA Club and a member of the National Dropout Prevention Network and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.

He is a member of Cooks Mountain Hunt Club and serves as chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and a member of the Finance Committee and Church Council at Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church.

Harpe received his bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina.

Submitted by Lexington One.