Jim Rex

Jim Rex (born November 21, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio) was the 16th South Carolina Superintendent of Education. He ran for the position in 2006 as a Democrat, against Karen Floyd, a Republican. Rex defeated Floyd by only 455 votes, the closest margin of victory in a statewide election in South Carolina's history. He was sworn-in as Superintendent on January 10, 2007, replacing fellow Democrat Inez Tenenbaum.

As Superintendent, Rex championed reforms in accountability and pushed for advances in public school choice and innovation. In addition to replacing the unpopular Palmetto Achievement Test (PACT) with the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS), he also worked with the General Assembly to reform the state’s system of annual school report cards, eliminate burdensome paperwork for teachers, change South Carolina’s student performance targets to bring them into alignment with other states, and create a mandate to review the state’s accountability system every five years.

Shortly after taking office, Rex created the Office of Public School Choice and Innovation within the South Carolina Department of Education, combining innovative approaches to education with technological advancement, both inside and outside the classroom, to help students learn. New and improved options include single-gender education, Montessori programs, charter schools and virtual learning. His bill for a comprehensive public school choice plan was passed by the General Assembly, but failed to become law after Governor Mark Sanford - under pressure from supporters of vouchers and tax credits - vetoed the legislation. Despite this setback, South Carolina has become a national leader in public school choice options during Rex's tenure.

When Governor Mark Sanford attempted to reject roughly $511 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds allotted for education in 2009, Rex led the fight to force the Governor to accept the money, working with leaders in Washington, DC and Columbia to find a way around his objection. In the end, the General Assembly supported Rex’s position on the issue and included the money in the budget, forcing a lawsuit. The issue was eventually resolved – and the jobs of as many as 5,200 teachers were saved – when the South Carolina Supreme Court ordered the Governor to accept the funds.

Prior to becoming Superintendent, Rex was an English teacher and football coach in Ohio, the Dean of Education at Winthrop University, the Dean of Education at Coastal Carolina University, President of Columbia College, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and Vice President of University Advancement at the University of South Carolina.

Rex received a bachelor's degree in English, a master's degree in education administration, and a doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Toledo. He is married to his wife Sue and has four children with her — Adam, Jeff, Nathan, and Siri. He lives on Lake Wateree in Fairfield County.