As part of our continuing effort to bring local news that’s impactful to our readers, we’ve proactively reached out to the candidates running for Fort Mill School Board.
We will not manipulate their answers in any way, we’ll simply provide to you, our readers. This will allow you to make an informed choice.
This week, we’ll introduce Michele Branning
Ms. Branning was elected to the Fort Mill School Board in 2014. During her time, she has served as the chair for the policy committee, vice chairman, and has served Strategic Planning Committees. As a Level 6 for the South Carolina School Boards Association, Michele was the 2024 President of South Carolina School Boards Association .
Michele is a Rotarian of the year titleholder multiple times with the Fort Mill Rotary Club serving as a board member, secretary, and President. Her skills were instrumental in monthly service projects impacting our community locally and abroad always using #ServiceAboveSelf, a motto she lives by.
Involvement in the FMSD began for Michele when she spearheaded Pleasant Knoll Elementary’s inaugural Parent Teacher Organization; she was the 2013 Bond Referendum Co-Chair and has served on School Improvement Councils at her children’s schools as well as holding numerous committee and board positions within all parent booster organizations including Dancing with the Stars FM.
Currently, she is a licensed Realtor in the Carolinas working with Keller Williams Connected Fort Mill. Michele’s greatest accomplishment is that she is the proud mom of two sons who are successful products of the Fort Mill school system.
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I am seeking re-election to continue the governing work that I have been entrusted to do for the last 12 years. Our district successes are amazing, but we are always striving for more and I believe my contribution and work is not done. With new leadership at the helm of the district I think it is important to continue to provide a solid base of known and trusted support. Having a business background and lifelong love of learning, the ever-changing educational environment requires a knowledgeable base and an ability to see and seek the future. It also requires strong partnerships with stakeholders, legislators and business leaders. I have built those partnerships. Advocating for public education is one of the most important roles a trustee can have, and I am proud of my record in doing just that, Advocating for Public Education. I humbly ask for your vote on November 3, 2026.
The Biggest Challenges facing the District Today is a combination of mental health struggles for students and families, achievement GAP, funding models that do not serve the public and teacher recruitment and retention. The increase in social and emotional issues facing our student population has doubled in recent history and doesn’t show signs of improving. We must provide more services and interventions for student success. This requires specialty services and providers which have a cost associated with it. As a Charlotte suburb, people wanting a quality education choose Fort Mill for that. Not all learners come with the same backgrounds, educational base and in many cases, English is not their native language. We still work to bridge those GAPS and provide quality instruction and intervention for All Learners. Our goal as a district remains the same, to provide a World Class Education for All Learners. Funding is what our local businesses provide as the state funding model continues to have a negative impact on our community. Working with our local businesses to help them understand that model and how to advocate for their tax relief is going to continue to be an integral part of community evolution. While I have advocated since day 1 for education funding reform, our state legislators have gone in the opposite direction. The only source of funding a school district has outside of the state funding is local businesses, cars and boats. Homeowners of primary residences do not fund operations (daily activity)
expenses. Recruitment & Retention are critical to student success, and we continue to show positive results from our efforts. That, however, doesn’t make it less important or critical.
Achievement – The biggest achievement I can hope to have is that I have made a difference in the lives of others. Many people talk about their Why, my Why is simple – Be the Adult that you Needed as a Child. If I can achieve that for any student, then that is a successful achievement. We set achievement goals for our students, staff and teams, and are proud of the results produced. It is critical to me to be a positive team member and recognize that I alone cannot achieve, but together the Team achieves. As a trustee, I am one of 7 trustees that work together in an advisory, policy and budgetary role to achieve our district goals for success as determined by our strategic plan created in conjunction with the public, teachers, administrators and students.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
