New Dorman High Principal Joshua Dawkins, left, with former school leader Bryant Roberson, and Dr. Beth Haun. Dr. Haun transitions into the role of Deputy Superintendent, and Roberson as district director of personnel and secondary services. Dawkins, hired for his new role at Dorman this past spring, will officially assume leadership when school resumes on Aug. 6. Photo courtesy of Spartanburg County School District Six.
It might be easier for Joshua Dawkins to tell you what he hasn’t achieved yet in the realm of public education.
But when school resumes on August 6 for the 2026-27 year in Spartanburg School District Six, Dawkins will not only officially take over as the new Principal of Dorman High School, he is expecting to call on every one of his previous roles and experience as he meets new challenges that will likely dwarf anything he has encountered so far.
“Mr. Dawkins is a proven leader whose positive influence, strong relationships, and commitment to excellence will serve Dorman High School exceptionally well,” said District Six Superintendent Dr. Ken Kiser, shortly after Dawkins was named this past spring to lead District Six’s largest school. “We are confident in his ability to build on the school’s strong foundation and guide the Cavaliers into an exciting future.”
That future will start with a whopping 3,600 students, but the new principal indicated that he has been preparing for this moment almost since the day he left high school.
“Education is my passion,” said Dawkins, a 2007 Dorman graduate. “And every day, I have a chance to help remove barriers for a student's or teacher's success while supporting an environment where people thrive.”
The seeds for removing those barriers, however, took shape from 2013-2025 at Laurens High School, where Dawkins served as the school’s principal, assistant principal, boys varsity basketball coach, school counselor, and business teacher for Laurens middle school.
No matter which hat he wore, the focus was the same: “It was about helping young people develop the confidence, character, and resilience needed to succeed.”
Through it all, however, Dawkins had one long-term goal: to get back to Dorman.
“I truly cherished my time at Laurens District 55, where I built meaningful connections with students, staff, and the community,” he said. “But like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz famously said, ‘There’s no place like home.’”
And his arrival is already loaded with a challenge: to increase both student attendance and the school’s college and career-readiness rate.
Based on the S.C. School Report Card, Dorman’s chronic absentee rate has steadily risen since 2021-22 from 28.9% to 32.8%.
“And the data for the 25-26 report card has not been released yet,” said school registrar Amanda Stewart. “Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least half of the school day for at least 10% of school days enrolled for any reason.”
None of which Dawkins sees as a positive trend heading into the new school year – but which he intends to put right by next spring.
“We have to create a culture where students feel connected and supported,” he said. “We have to expand students' access to rigorous coursework, mentorship, and work-based learning opportunities. Once this culture is established, students will have no choice but to succeed.”
It’s a lot to consider with no guarantee of working. But Dawkins likens the condition to just part of knowing that principals, like teachers and district leaders, have to be able to handle students differently than adults.
“ What other job lets you start the day in an adult mindset, switch to an adolescent mindset by lunch to give a struggling teenager advice, then switch back to adult mode to pour into your own family, and repeat?” he said. “I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead the place that helped shape my foundation.”
