Riverwalk Academy families, parents, and students— we need your help! We're excited to kick off the very first Staff Member of the Month for the 2025–2026 school year!
Each month, we celebrate some of our amazing staff members who go above and beyond for our students and school.
If you know a staff member who has shown exceptional dedication, kindness, creativity, or leadership, we’d love for you to nominate them!
Your nomination helps us recognize and celebrate the people who make Riverwalk Academy such a special place to learn and grow.
Click here to nominate someone: https://form.jotform.com/212303079647051 (for IG followers, link is in our bio)
Just a reminder! Lion's Pride begins Monday, August 4th. There is no before or after-school care this week. Please plan accordingly. If you have questions about Lion's Pride, please reach out to Ms. Robinson or visit our webpage.
Meet Mr. Marquis McCormick – 5th Grade Social Studies & Science
Riverwalk Academy is proud to welcome Mr. Marquis McCormick to our Pride family! Originally from Florence, South Carolina, Mr. McCormick is entering his second year of teaching and is a 2024 graduate of Claflin University.
This school year, he will be teaching 5th Grade Social Studies and Science. Mr. McCormick brings great enthusiasm to the classroom and is passionate about creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences for his students.
Outside of school, he enjoys watching sports, exploring new foods, and spending quality time with his family.
We’re excited to have Mr. McCormick join Riverwalk Academy and look forward to the energy and dedication he brings to our team!
#WelcomeToThePride #RiverwalkAcademy #MeetTheTeacher #PowerofthePRIDE #NewTeacherEnergy #PRIDEinEveryStep
Riverwalk Academy is proud to welcome Mr. Marquis McCormick to our Pride family! Originally from Florence, South Carolina, Mr. McCormick is entering his second year of teaching and is a 2024 graduate of Claflin University.
This school year, he will be teaching 5th Grade Social Studies and Science. Mr. McCormick brings great enthusiasm to the classroom and is passionate about creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences for his students.
Outside of school, he enjoys watching sports, exploring new foods, and spending quality time with his family.
We’re excited to have Mr. McCormick join Riverwalk Academy and look forward to the energy and dedication he brings to our team!
#WelcomeToThePride #RiverwalkAcademy #MeetTheTeacher #PowerofthePRIDE #NewTeacherEnergy #PRIDEinEveryStep
Join Riverwalk Academy for the first Spirit Night of the school year! We would love to see you out there!
Middle and High School families, If you are unable to attend our Meet the Teacher and need to get your students' schedule, swing by the upper school MPR on Wednesday to pick it up!
Check out this week's Riverwalk Roar! There's a lot of info that will help you be prepared for our first day back at school, so don't miss out! https://secure.smore.com/n/z58pa
Welcome Back, Ms. Siera Hilliard – 5th Grade Literacy
Riverwalk Academy is excited to welcome back Ms. Siera Hilliard to our Pride family! Ms. Hilliard brings a wealth of experience to her role as our 5th Grade Literacy teacher. Throughout her extensive career in education, she has served in a variety of roles, including special education, Pre-K, Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and as part of an Academic Services Team supporting students from Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Ms. Hilliard is the proud mom of two children—Payton, who is entering high school as a freshman, and Audrey, who will be starting 5th grade. She also shares her home with two beloved pets: a spirited dog named Gus and a lizard named Olive.
When she's not in the classroom, Ms. Hilliard enjoys reading, traveling, spending time at the beach, and cheering on Iowa Hawkeye football.
We’re thrilled to have Ms. Hilliard back at Riverwalk Academy and can’t wait for all the great things this school year will bring!
#RiverwalkAcademy #PowerofthePRIDE #PRIDEinEveryStep #WelcomeBack
Riverwalk Academy is excited to welcome back Ms. Siera Hilliard to our Pride family! Ms. Hilliard brings a wealth of experience to her role as our 5th Grade Literacy teacher. Throughout her extensive career in education, she has served in a variety of roles, including special education, Pre-K, Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and as part of an Academic Services Team supporting students from Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Ms. Hilliard is the proud mom of two children—Payton, who is entering high school as a freshman, and Audrey, who will be starting 5th grade. She also shares her home with two beloved pets: a spirited dog named Gus and a lizard named Olive.
When she's not in the classroom, Ms. Hilliard enjoys reading, traveling, spending time at the beach, and cheering on Iowa Hawkeye football.
We’re thrilled to have Ms. Hilliard back at Riverwalk Academy and can’t wait for all the great things this school year will bring!
#RiverwalkAcademy #PowerofthePRIDE #PRIDEinEveryStep #WelcomeBack
All potential volleyball athletes! Make sure you attend the meeting next Thursday (July 31) in the upper school building. Any questions, reach out to Ms. George.
Riverwalk Academy is thrilled to welcome Ms. Jessica McBrearty to our team as a high school math teacher. While she is returning to the classroom, Ms. McBrearty brings with her over a decade of experience in STEM education. She is deeply passionate about helping students build confidence not only in math, but across all subject areas.
Outside the classroom, Ms. McBrearty enjoys spending time with her energetic 2-year-old daughter, reading, and being with her family. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to a fantastic school year ahead with her on the team!
#RiverwalkAcademy #PowerofthePRIDE #PRIDEinEveryStep #WelcometothePRIDE
Outside the classroom, Ms. McBrearty enjoys spending time with her energetic 2-year-old daughter, reading, and being with her family. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to a fantastic school year ahead with her on the team!
#RiverwalkAcademy #PowerofthePRIDE #PRIDEinEveryStep #WelcometothePRIDE
Click here to check out this week's Riverwalk Roar! We've added more info to our Back to School page as well. We can't wait to see you all soon! https://secure.smore.com/n/f2sew
Riverwalk Academy is excited to welcome Mr. Buffington to our team as a Special Education Paraprofessional. Originally from the small rural town of Saluda, South Carolina—named after the Saluda Native American tribe—Mr. Buffington brings a warm heart and a passion for supporting students to our school community. He is happily married to his wife, Stephanie, and is extremely proud of their extraordinary 18-year-old son, Jesse Lee. In his free time, Mr. Buffington enjoys spending quality time with his family watching movies, going to the theatre, and cheering on his favorite shows like American Idol and The Voice. A devoted Clemson fan through and through, you’ll often hear him proudly exclaim, “Go Tigers!” 🐯 We’re thrilled to have Mr. Buffington join the Riverwalk family! Welcome to the PRIDE! #PRIDEinEveryStep #RiverwalkAcademy2025 #NewyearNewstaff #PowerofthePRIDE
Join us in welcoming Mr. Cannon to the Riverwalk Academy PRIDE! Mr. Cannon will be joining us as an upper school assistant administrator. Mr. Cannon has served in public education for nearly 20 years, holding a variety of roles including teacher, athletic coach, instructional coach, and school administrator. A proud University of South Carolina Gamecocks fan, he enjoys all things related to his alma mater, as well as spending quality time cooking—especially through a small catering venture he shares with his identical twin brother. Interestingly, Mr. Cannon is not only an identical twin himself, but also the father of identical twin sons. Recently returning to the area after 24 years to be closer to family, he is excited to join the Riverwalk Academy community and looks forward to working alongside its dedicated faculty, staff, students, and families. #PowerofthePRIDE #PRIDEinEveryStep #RiverwalkAcademy #2025SchoolYear
A recap of the July 15, 2025 board meeting can be found by clicking here: https://secure.smore.com/n/at3bh.
📚🎉 Back-to-School Meet & Greet!
Join us at our elementary and upper school campuses to meet our amazing staff and pick up important items like car tags, Lions Pride info, and more — everything you need to kick off the school year! While there will not be any food trucks or games at Meet the Teacher, we will be doing an official Back to School Bash at a later date with food trucks, games, etc. So, stay tuned for information about that as well.
🦁 We can’t wait to see you there!
✨ K–5th families: Don’t forget to bring your students’ supplies!
#BackToSchool #MeetAndGreet #LionsPride #RiverwalkAcademy #WeAreLions #LionStrong #RiverwalkLions #FutureIsBright #LionFamily #StartStrong #PRIDEineverystep
Welcome to the first newsletter of the 25-26 school year! Click here to find important info for the start of the school year! https://secure.smore.com/n/9r76n
🎆🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day from Riverwalk Academy! 🇺🇸🎆
Today, we celebrate the courage, unity, and freedom that define our great nation. As we gather with family and friends to enjoy fireworks, food, and fun, let's take a moment to reflect on the values that make our country—and our school community—so special.
From our Riverwalk Pride family to yours, have a safe and joyful 4th of July! 💙❤️🤍
#RiverwalkAcademy #PowerofthePride #Happy4thOfJuly #IndependenceDay #WeAreRiverwalk
🇺🇸✨ Happy Juneteenth from Riverwalk Academy! ✨🇺🇸
Today, we honor Juneteenth — a powerful reminder of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward equality. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas finally received word that they were free.
At Riverwalk Academy, we believe in the importance of recognizing history, embracing diversity, and educating hearts and minds. Let today be a moment of reflection, learning, and celebration of the strength and contributions of Black Americans throughout history and today.
🖤❤️💚
#Juneteenth #FreedomDay #RiverwalkAcademy #CelebrateFreedom #EquityInEducation #HonorHistory #UnityInDiversity
🏅 Coaching Opportunities at Riverwalk Academy! 🏅
Do you or someone you know love coaching, leading, and building relationships with middle and high school students? We would love to hear from you!
Riverwalk Academy is now hiring for the following coaching positions:
Head Swim Coach
Assistant Swim Coach
Head Middle School Girls Basketball Coach
Assistant Middle School Girls Basketball Coach
Assistant Cheer Coach
Assistant Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach
Assistant Middle School Girls Volleyball Coach
Scan the QR code or follow this link for more info!
http://links.riverwalkacademy.com/employment
Friday the 30th is an early release day! Elementary begins at 11:00 and there is NO AFTERSCHOOL.
