Charleston lawyer replaces Ellen Weaver as chairman on SC’s education oversight panel
A 17-year member of the South Carolina committee that assesses performance and evaluates school standards is the committee’s new leader.
The Education Oversight Committee on Monday elected Neil Robinson to run the committee, the second time for the Charleston resident. He was first appointed in 2005 by state Senate Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston.
“I look forward to again leading this group of dedicated servants who are all passionate about serving students in SC,” Robinson said. “It is a challenging time to be in education, but we are all dedicated to seeing that decisions are made that benefit all students.”
Robinson replaces Ellen Weaver, who remains on the committee, but stepped down as chair because she is running for the Republican nomination for the state superintendent of education. Superintendent Molly Spearman announced in October she is not running for reelection.
Robinson is an attorney for Columbia-based law firm Nexsen Pruet, and specializes in real estate and economic development.
Robinson founded the Charleston Education Network, a private, nonprofit advocacy organization. He also serves on the boards of the Clemson University Land Stewardship Foundation, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition and the Medical University of South Carolina’s Children’s Hospital Fund.
Robinson has been a donor to political candidates in both major political parties, but in the last year he has given money to Gov. Henry McMaster, Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers, House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, and Weaver, according to state Ethics Commission records.
This story was originally published February 14, 2022 at 3:58 PM.
