Area 22: Meet Your 2026 Greenville County School Board Candidates

Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 22? Meet Leslie Fatum and Lynda Leventis-Wells, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:

All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.

Candidate links:

• Leslie Fatum

• Lynda Leventis-Wells

• Sample Ballot

Greenville County Schools Trustee Elections Overview

Catherine Schumacher:

Every two years, half of Greenville County Schools' Board of Trustees seats are on the ballot. When you go to the polls on November 3rd or in early voting, those of you living in the even-numbered school board areas will have the opportunity to cast your ballot in these critical, nonpartisan races to select the leaders who will help shape the future for one of our most important community assets, our public schools.

Here in Greenville, school board trustees play a critical leadership role. They develop and approve high-level policies, they approve the annual operating and capital budgets, and hold taxing authority to meet important priorities. They also oversee the hiring and evaluation of the district superintendent.

School board trustees help hold and trust our community's vision for schools that serve the vast majority of the school-aided children, a powerful responsibility. I'm Catherine Schumacher with Public Education Partners, and on this episode of Simple Civics Ed Talks, we are pleased to be part of the Simple Civics Greenville County commitment to candidate interviews for all of the contested seats on your ballot in November.

Here's how the interviews worked. All candidates received the same questions at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves.

There were no edits made to the interview. We've put links to the participating candidates' preferred internet presence on the episode page. Today, we feature interviews with your candidates for Area 22, Leslie Fatum and Lynda Leventis-Wells. District 22 generally represents the North Main area and neighborhoods around Wade Hampton Boulevard and Pelham Road.

Meet Leslie Fatum: Greenville County School Board Area 22 Candidate

First up, alphabetically, is Leslie Fatum. Well, I'm pleased to be here with Leslie Fatum, who is running for Greenville County School Board of Trustees in Area 22. Leslie, thank you so much for joining us today.

Leslie Fatum:

Well, thank you for having me. It's a real pleasure.

Catherine Schumacher:

Absolutely. Well, first of all, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and why you are interested in serving on the school board?

Leslie Fatum:

Okay. Well, I should start by saying that I grew up in Detroit to parents who were both public school teachers. Now I'm a retired educator who taught middle and high school science. I worked in the Indiana Department of Education, and I was a high school administrator for seven years.

I've served in the Air Force as a public health officer and worked as both a corporate attorney and general counsel for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. I even ran the dog pound as administrator of Indianapolis Animal Care and Control.

Education was my last professional career, but it's definitely been the most fulfilling and challenging. I have never worked so hard in my life as I did when I was a public high school teacher at a high-needs school. Since moving to Greenville with my husband and our pets, I've been a substitute teacher for the county schools.

Previous to that, I was an AmeriCorps member who served as a community health worker. I also was a volunteer with a wonderful program that was sponsored by the SHARE organization, which stands for Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources and was called CIRCLES, which enabled me to work with others to help lift people out of poverty.

I came to realize that I still had a passion for public service and in particular public education, and I want to do more to help our students learn how to access the wonderful resources that Greenville County Schools have to offer.

I think that it's not enough to just provide access to learning. Students and parents need to learn how to gain that access and we need to make it as easy as possible, especially for our most vulnerable populations.

Catherine Schumacher:

So what are the issues you believe are most important for school board members to focus on in this moment?

Leslie Fatum:

I think there are two critical issues that are facing public education across the board right now. The first one is the lack of support and respect for this profession, which most significantly has manifested itself as the current dismantling of our federal educational resources, as well as real threats to state and local funding streams that we rely on.

I don't think most people realize how complicated and difficult it is to provide a high-quality educational experience to such a diverse population of students with so many different needs, and to manage the facilities, the security systems, bus services, and all of the other ancillary resources that are required. Not having consistent and reliable funding greatly exacerbates that difficulty.

Secondly, students across the country are expressing a general state of apathy towards school, as well as a greatly decreased attention span and inability to focus on their lessons. A lot of this can be blamed on the overwhelming amount of information that's spewing out of their digital devices 24-7.

We adults also share the blame for allowing social media and the Internet to become such an important source of information and influence over them. It's very difficult for us to teach our kids to be critical thinkers when we as adults have abdicated our own responsibilities to become informed and active participants in civic society.

It breaks my heart when I hear a student say that they hate reading or writing or science because those competencies are gifts that they give themselves and no one can take them away from them. They truly open up the world for a young person. My own experiences are proof of that.

Catherine Schumacher:

Well, what are the critical experiences, qualities, and skills that you would bring to your service as a trustee?

Leslie Fatum:

Well, I think that my diverse academic and professional experiences have not only enabled me to become knowledgeable on a wide range of topics, but also to be comfortable and useful in a variety of workplace environments.

I feel like I'm a true team player. I love to collaborate and work with people. I'm a facilitator. I can form good relationships with people, no matter their social rank or their position in society or the workplace.

I'm a skilled communicator across all mediums. I can think critically to analyze and solve problems. Most importantly, I really care about people, especially our young people. I will join the board in working together to achieve our mutual goals by focusing on what we share in common, despite any personal differences.

I know that student and parental engagement are critical issues, and I think that I can work to help students and parents understand how to gain access to the resources that we have to offer. I also want to help our teachers and parents work on helping kids retain their natural curiosity and imagination that's inherent in all children.

For some reason, they start to lose that when they come to school, and that's a big problem. Parental engagement is just as important, but it's even harder when many parents don't have the resources to become active participants in their kids' education. I would like to work with the board to help solve these problems.

Catherine Schumacher:

Well, thank you. We have a little bit more time. Is there anything else that you would like to share with our listeners?

Leslie Fatum:

I would just like to say I love Greenville. I love my neighborhood. I love our kids.

We are at a real critical point for public education. It's imperative that all of us—it takes a community. I want to be part of that community in whatever way I can, and I think that being on the board will enable me to achieve that goal.

Catherine Schumacher:

Great. Well, thank you so much for being with us today and for your willingness to serve.

Leslie Fatum:

Thank you.

Meet Lynda Leventis-Wells: Greenville County School Board Area 22 Candidate

Catherine Schumacher:

Next, we have Lynda Leventis-Wells. Well, I'm pleased to be here with Lynda Leventis-Wells, who is running for re-election for Greenville County School Board of Trustees for Area 22. Lynda, thank you for joining us today.

Lynda Leventis-Wells:

Thank you so much for inviting me.

Catherine Schumacher:

Wonderful. Well, let's start. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and why you are interested in continuing to serve on the school board.

Lynda Leventis-Wells:

Absolutely. Catherine, I've spent my career serving children, educators, and my community. My background in education and law enforcement has given me a unique perspective on factors that support and promote a child's ability to succeed.

I have been a teacher, a coach, a criminology instructor for the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, and a criminal justice instructor on the college level. I've had the privilege of serving on the Greenville County School Board and have served as Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chairman of the Board.

I chose to serve on our school board because I am passionate about public education and providing opportunities for every student. Our schools are preparing the next generation of citizens, leaders, and members of our workforce that the whole community relies on. This is a huge responsibility that we should never take lightly.

I believe effective school board service is about listening to those that we serve, asking the right questions, and making thoughtful, responsible decisions. It is imperative that we keep our students at the center of every decision.

I want to continue working with parents, teachers, administrators, students, and our community to ensure Greenville County schools remain among the best in the state while making sure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

My guiding philosophy, and I've always stood by this, I say it all the time: help me help you because I believe in you. I believe in our students, I believe in our educators, and I believe in Greenville County community.

Catherine Schumacher:

Great. What are the issues that you believe are most important for school board members to focus on at this moment?

Lynda Leventis-Wells:

That's a great question. One of our biggest priorities must always be student achievement.

We need to make sure students are mastering the fundamentals, particularly reading and math, while also providing meaningful opportunities for advanced academics, career and technology education, college preparation, and industry credentials. We want to be known for our strong academic excellence.

We also must continue to recruit, retain, and support excellent teachers and staff. Our educators are the boots on the ground who make everything else possible. That means we must support competitive compensation, professional development opportunities, and ensure teachers have the resources they need to teach.

The next one is safe and secure schools and students' well-being. That must be a priority as well. Students cannot learn effectively if they do not feel safe, supported, and valued. We will continue investing in physical security while also making sure support is available to address mental health, behavioral needs, and overall well-being.

Finally, I believe we must strengthen the partnerships between parents, schools, and the community. I'm an advocate for parental rights. Parents are the strongest advocates for their children, and I believe parents are the primary decision makers for their children.

At the same time, we should continue building partnerships with businesses, higher education, and community organizations so that our students graduate prepared for college, careers, military service, and, of course, life.

Above all, school board members must remain focused on their communities and what actually improves outcomes for students, while being responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us by taxpayers. We have so much to celebrate in Greenville County Schools, and I'm glad to be a part of it.

Catherine Schumacher:

So what are the critical experiences, qualities, and skills that you would bring to your continued service as a trustee?

Lynda Leventis-Wells:

Okay. I bring a combination of previous school board experience, a career in education, and professional experience in law enforcement and community service that is unique on our board.

My experience as an educator, guidance counselor, ESL teacher, PE teacher, resource, coaching girls' varsity basketball and girls' varsity soccer, and criminal justice public safety instructor has allowed me to understand schools from multiple perspectives.

My law enforcement background has also provided me with the ability to navigate difficult situations, investigate issues carefully, understand safety concerns, and make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

As a trustee, I bring experience, perspective, accountability, and a willingness to listen. I understand that school board service is not about advancing a personal agenda. It's about making sound decisions on behalf of our students, families, employees, and taxpayers.

I understand the importance of collaboration. A successful school system requires the board, superintendent, administrators, teachers, parents, students, and community partners to work together. I believe my greatest strength is my ability to bring people together, listen to different perspectives, and remain focused on finding solutions.

Since I've spent time in the classroom and in the field, I also bring insider knowledge of Greenville County Schools. But I never believe that experience means we should stop listening and learning.

Our community and our students' needs are constantly changing, and effective trustees must be willing to change with them while remaining grounded in the fundamental missions of providing every student with an excellent education.

I truly believe this, and I say it all the time, there's no greater calling than making a difference in the lives of children, our students. Successful students create successful communities, and together we can ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Catherine Schumacher:

Thank you, Lynda. We have a little bit more time. Is there anything else that you would like to share with our listeners?

Lynda Leventis-Wells:

We have some great programs in our school district. The one I love that is dearest to my heart is giving students the opportunity to work and pursue, if they choose, the teaching profession.

I love the teacher cadets. I see them at every board meeting. Their faces are smiling, they're energetic, and they are willing to learn.

What's special about this group is they know a good teacher because they have been in the system long enough, they know the traits, and they are also in the classroom teaching, assisting, and getting that experience.

After they are in the program, they may decide not to go this route, and that's okay. But when they do, and they graduate from their four-year institute and come back with credentials, I want them teaching in our school district, because that's what we're all about. We're giving it forward, and I know it's going to come back in droves because I'm excited.

There's so much about our district, the career and technology. When I was at Greenville Tech, I was over at the college and high school. I know how valuable those opportunities are.

When I see the career centers flourishing and our students taking advantage of this college and career readiness program, it touches my heart. It reminds me of how Dr. Barton had the vision to help students get college credit while they're still in high school, and it's working.

I always tell students, listen, if you want to go into welding, you're looking at $60,000 to $150,000. If you're going to weld underwater, you're going to get $150,000. I said, I'm always looking for a great mechanic, and Lord knows I need a haircut right now. I need some styling.

We're doing so many great things in the district, and I'm just proud and honored to be on the school board.

Catherine Schumacher:

Wonderful. Well, thank you so much for being with us today. And of course, for your continued willingness to serve the students and teachers of Greenville County Schools.

Lynda Leventis-Wells:

Thank you, Catherine.