Headmasters' Message

     Dr. Shawn Ragin is the Founder and Headmaster of Ragin Preparatory Christian Academy. Ragin was born and raised in Pinewood, South Carolina. He is a 2004 graduate of Lakewood High School. He earned a Mortuary Science degree from Gupton-Jones College in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Morris College in Sumter, SC. He is currently working towards a Masters in Education Leadership at Columbia International University. Dr. Ragin received an honorary Doctorate of Christian Education and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the school of the Great Commission Bible College in 2021.
      Dr. Ragin earned critical needs certification for Middle Level Science through the South Carolina Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE). He began his career in education in the Sumter County School District in 2008, as a middle level Science Instructor at the Academic Learning Center. After a year at the Academic Learning Center, Dr. Ragin began teaching middle level Science in the Lee County School District, at Lee Central Middle School in 2009. He began teaching middle level Science at the Mary Lee Dinkins Higher Learning Academy Charter School in Bishopville, South Carolina, from 2012 until the school’s closing in 2013. It was at Mary Lee Dinkins that Dr. Ragin’s abilities as an administrative leader were notable. He showed promise to the administration and school board that he not only was a successful classroom educator, but he was undeniably a natural leader. His efforts were highly respected by the Executive Director, principal, fellow staff members, students, and parents. In February 2014, Ragin founded Ragin Preparatory Christian Academy.
    Since its inception, Ragin Preparatory Christian Academy has been a staple in the Sumter community under Dr. Ragin’s leadership. Growing from 2014 to present the school has served hundreds of students in the Sumter, Clarendon and Lee Counties through its childcare center, grade school academy, various camps and after school programs as well as made its mark in the history of South Carolina. Ragin Prep is accredited by the South Carolina Independent Schools Association. Ragin Preparatory Christian Academy opened the Little Lambs Learning Center in 2019 which welcomes families with children ages 6 weeks to 4K. Dr. Ragin is committed to service in the Sumter community and serves on the Sumter County School Board since 2018, being elected by the community where he was educated. He is trusted by the Sumter community to make decisions in education and he serves with a passion for education and service.
Ragin’s favorite scripture is Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”