The Riley Institute at Furman University has appointed a new staff member who will focus on advancing evidence-based public education practices in South Carolina by cultivating statewide partnerships and drawing from the Institute’s original research and from research at the state and national levels.
Kelly Gregory joined the Riley Institute on July 18 and brings both extensive classroom experience and research experience to the role. Gregory taught for 11 years in public schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, most recently working for Greenville County Schools. She holds a National Board certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist.
Gregory previously worked at the Institute from 2015 to 2019, serving as a member of the research team for its external evaluation of OnTrack Greenville, a collaborative intervention program that keeps students on track to graduate high school. She was also a data analyst for the Institute’s groundbreaking South Carolina statewide education study.
“With Kelly’s deep well of experience and on-the-ground understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist in our public schools, the Riley Institute’s efforts to help improve education outcomes in South Carolina are made that much stronger,” said Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. “We’re delighted to have her back on the team.”
Named for former U.S. Secretary of Education and former South Carolina Governor Dick Riley, the Riley Institute advances social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond by building leadership for a diverse society, broadening student and community perspectives on critical issues, hosting expert speakers, supporting public education, and creating knowledge through community solutions-focused research. It is committed to nonpartisanship in all it does and to a rhetoric-free, facts-based approach to change.