Region IV Principal of the Year: Karey Fisher

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MEET THE REGION IV PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR

KAREY FISHER
Nursery Road Elementary School – Arts Magnet
District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties

Magnet Schools of America is proud to recognize Karey Fisher, principal of Nursery Road Elementary School – Arts Magnet in School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, as the Region IV Principal of the Year. A visionary leader in arts-integrated education, Fisher has transformed her school into a vibrant learning community where every child is seen, heard, and empowered through the arts. By embedding media, visual, and performing arts across all subjects, she has created a magnet program where creativity fuels academic achievement and student engagement.

Under Fisher’s leadership, Nursery Road Elementary has launched innovative, district-first programs that expand access to high-quality arts education, including Gifted and Talented pathways in Visual Arts, Dance, Theatre, and Strings, as well as a pioneering Arts Majors pilot. These opportunities ensure that all students—regardless of background—can participate in rigorous, creative learning experiences that build confidence, collaboration, and critical thinking. Her commitment to equity is reflected in intentional recruitment, inclusive programming, and measurable increases in both student diversity and academic achievement.

Fisher’s impact is also evident in the school’s strong academic growth and instructional innovation. By leading a collaborative instructional leadership team and embedding arts integration into daily teaching practices, she has helped drive significant gains in reading and math proficiency while narrowing achievement gaps among historically underserved student groups. Classrooms come alive through strategies such as Readers Theater, puppetry, music-infused mathematics, and interdisciplinary performance projects like “Creating Original Opera,” where students take on leadership roles as composers, designers, and performers.

Beyond academics, Fisher has cultivated a culture of connection and belonging that extends throughout the school and into the community. Through partnerships with local artists, arts organizations, and families, students engage in authentic learning experiences that celebrate diverse perspectives and talents. Parents and community members describe her as a visible, approachable leader who fosters trust, collaboration, and opportunity for all students.

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