SUMMERTON, SC – Clarendon Hall’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce Nicholas E. “Nick” Paramore as Head of School, effective June 1, 2026. Paramore visited campus on Tuesday, December 9, to meet the full faculty and staff. He will succeed William Russell “Russ” Jordan, who announced in October that he will conclude his tenure at the end of the academic year to become Head of School at Trinity Collegiate School in Darlington, SC. Jordan will continue serving Clarendon Hall through June 10 and has pledged to support Paramore and the school during the transition.
Board Chairman and CEO, L. Travis McIntosh, a Saints alumnus, stated: “I am excited to welcome Mr. Paramore, his wife Jessie, daughter Elliebet, and son Cole to the Clarendon Hall Family. Mr. Paramore brings more than a decade of teaching, coaching, and administrative experience in SCISA. He understands Clarendon Hall is, first and foremost, a Christian school. I know he will challenge us to raise the bar academically and athletically, and he is fully committed to our long-range 10-year plan.”
Paramore expressed his enthusiasm for the role: “I am honored to become the next Head of School at Clarendon Hall. My family and I are excited to join the CH family and to be part of a community with a storied 60-year history of academic excellence in a Christian environment. We look forward to contributing to the next chapter of growth at this remarkable school.”
Currently serving as Dean of Academics at Camden Military Academy, Paramore oversees teaching and learning, faculty development, academic advising, scheduling, and curriculum management. He also coordinates SAT and ACT administration and serves as the school’s technology coordinator.
Guided by his core values of Integrity, Respect, Faith, and Service, Paramore is recognized for his commitment to continuous improvement and principled leadership. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (The Citadel) and a Master of Science in Leadership (The Citadel Graduate College). His contributions were instrumental in Camden Military Academy’s successful Cognia accreditation reviews in 2017 and 2022, and he has served on multiple Cognia Accreditation Engagement Review Teams across South Carolina.
A practitioner of organizational development, Paramore has led impactful initiatives, including new systems for tracking textbooks and school devices, saving resources and improving efficiency. He also serves as a Major in the Civil Air Patrol, where he has held command positions at both squadron and group levels and served as Inspector General for the South Carolina Wing.
An adjunct professor teaching Foundations of Leadership at the University of South Carolina, Paramore is currently participating in SCISA’s ASCEND Program (TAP), a leadership development initiative for rising leaders in South Carolina’s independent schools. He is pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership, expected in 2027.
Paramore and his wife, Jessie, are the proud parents of two children, Elliebet and Cole, along with three beloved dogs. The family attends Trinity Methodist Church in Camden and will relocate to the area this summer. The school will be scheduling a meet and greet with the incoming head of school in 2026.
Jordan reflected on his time at Clarendon Hall, saying: “I am truly thankful for the experiences, friendships, and memories I’ve shared with the Board of Directors, staff, children, families, and Saints supporters. The strength of Clarendon Hall lies in its dedicated teachers, supportive parents, engaged students, and faithful community—together, they make this the premier Christian education institution in Clarendon and Sumter Counties.”
Jordan, a South Carolina native, earned a bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University and completed a Master of Education at Clemson University in 2018. He joined Clarendon Hall in 2022 and was named SCISA (South Carolina Independent School Association) Rookie Head of School in November 2023. He and his wife, Christi, have two daughters, Olivia and Mary Claire, and are active members of First Baptist Church of Lake City.
McIntosh praised Jordan’s service: “The Board and I have enjoyed working alongside Mr. Jordan. He is a visionary leader. Over the past five years, Clarendon Hall has invested more than $2 million in campus and curriculum improvements, and enrollment has grown by 77%. Mr. Jordan has guided those efforts since taking the helm. Personally, I wish Russ, Christi, and their daughters nothing but the best as they begin this new chapter. They will always be part of our Saints Family.”
As one of the most well-established schools in the area, Clarendon Hall has provided superior elementary and secondary education in a non-denominational Christian environment since 1965. Clarendon Hall is an independent co-educational school for kindergarten three years old through twelfth grade. In addition to being a founding member of the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA), Clarendon Hall is accredited by Cognia. Clarendon Hall is located at 1140 South Dukes Street in Summerton. For more information, contact the school office at (803) 485-3550 or visit the website at www.clarendonhall.org.
