In a celebration of her three decades of musical excellence, Lisa Rayner, a music specialist at Pontiac Elementary School in Richland School District Two, has been officially inducted into the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA) Hall of Fame. The ceremony, held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, honored Rayner’s outstanding contributions to music education.
Rayner, who is currently in her 30th year of teaching, has dedicated the last 28 years to Pontiac Elementary School. Her role encompasses teaching general music to 800 students in traditional K-5 classrooms and Montessori Magnet mixed-grade classrooms. Additionally, she directs the Pontiac fourth and fifth-grade chorus after school.
Expressing gratitude for the support she received from Richland Two, Rayner acknowledged the crucial role it played in her professional achievements. She emphasized that without this support, she wouldn’t have been able to attain the honor of being inducted into the SCMEA Hall of Fame.
Beyond her role at Pontiac Elementary, Rayner serves as the Assistant Director of the Tri-District Arts Consortium (Tri-DAC), an auditioned summer intensive program for gifted and talented students in the performing and creative arts from Richland School District Two, Lexington School District One, and Lexington/Richland School District Five.
Rayner’s dedication to music education goes beyond the classroom. She has been actively involved in various leadership roles, serving as the Past-President of SCMEA (2015-2017) and the Elementary Division of SCMEA (2009-2011). She has also contributed to the Southern Division Board of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the NAfME Council for General Music Education, the South Carolina Council of Arts Education Presidents (CAEP), and the first National Advisory Council for Quaver Music (now QuaverEd).
Lisa Rayner holds a Master of Education degree in Education Administration with elementary principal certification from the University of South Carolina. She also earned a Bachelor of Music degree (summa cum laude) in Music Education with choral and instrumental certification from Columbia College. Her induction into the SCMEA Hall of Fame is a testament to her profound impact on music education and her ongoing commitment to fostering musical talent in students.
Photo: Lisa Rayner (left) and Dr. Wendy Campbell (right).
