About dr. trevor Ivey
Educational Leader. Entrepreneur. Advocate for Change
Dr. Trevor Ivey’s journey is proof that purpose and perseverance can transform both people and places. A proud Sumter native and Harvard-trained leader, he has spent over two decades reshaping the educational landscape of South Carolina and beyond. His work is guided by an unwavering belief that every child deserves a champion, and he has dedicated his career to being that champion for others.
Raised in rural Sumter County, South Carolina, Trevor experienced firsthand what it meant to navigate school without the advantage of early guidance or access to the resources that prepare students for life beyond the classroom. Without strong examples of what higher education or career success could look like, he learned to rely on persistence, curiosity, and self-discipline to carve his own path.
Even from a young age, he knew he wanted to work with children, to create the kind of encouragement, engagement, and opportunity he once longed for himself. It wasn’t until high school, through participation in the Teacher Cadet program, that he discovered how education could be more than a system. It could be a source of empowerment and purpose. That realization brought him back to his original calling: helping children see possibilities and ensuring no student ever feels unseen or unprepared for the opportunities ahead.
The Early Years
The first in his family to attend college, Trevor graduated from the University of South Carolina and began a path that combined service, leadership, and impact. His time as a congressional intern deepened his understanding of policy and advocacy, while his Peace Corps service in Paraguay broadened his worldview and deepened his appreciation for the role education plays in shaping communities.
His Harvard experience pushed him to grow in ways not expected. It encouraged him to bring his true identity, lived experiences, and his hometown community’s story into every classroom discussion and every project. He learned how to use research, data, and design thinking not just to understand the system, but to change it from within. Harvard taught Trevor to listen deeply, question boldly, and innovate fearlessly. Most importantly, it affirmed that the work we do in education should always serve people—especially those who have historically been underserved. That is the kind of ‘good trouble’ he carries into every space he gets to lead, build, and reimagine.
These experiences collectively revealed a world far beyond our own—full of diverse perspectives, challenges, and possibilities—yet also served as a powerful reminder that meaningful work begins right at our own doorstep.
It strengthened his conviction to return home and create opportunities for students in communities like the one that shaped him.
A Champion for Underdogs
With over 20 years of experience as an educator, Trevor serves as the founding Executive Director of Liberty STEAM Charter School, Sumter County’s first public charter school. Liberty’s mission is bold and clear: to dismantle generational poverty and transform the I-95 “Corridor of Shame” into a corridor of hope and opportunity.
Under his leadership, Liberty STEAM has redefined what excellence looks like in education, earning a “Good” state accountability rating in its first year, surpassing local and state proficiency averages, and receiving national recognition as a 2024 Yass Prize Winner and a 2025 Building Hope Award Recipient for educational innovation.
Through a longer school year, a focus on social-emotional learning, intentional exposure to the four in-demand career pathways in Sumter County, and a collective leadership model that empowers parents & teachers as decision-makers, he continues to prove that excellence is not the exception; it’s the expectation.
Leading Liberty
In the Community
A Legacy You Can Lead
Lasting change doesn’t wait; it’s built by people like you who are willing to do the hard work now.
You have the power to make a difference right where you are. Every choice, every conversation, every moment of courage adds up to progress that matters. This is your invitation to challenge what’s always been done, invest in people, and help create schools that open doors for every child.
Progress begins with people, and lasting success comes from those who care enough to keep showing up, learning, and leading.
Advocate
Disrupt what’s comfortable. Create what’s needed.
Speak up. Stand firm. Push for what’s best for students, even when it means rethinking long-standing traditions or asking the hard questions.
Advance
Keep learning. Keep leading.
Commit to growing. Embrace new ideas, refine your practice, and model what lifelong learning looks like for your students and peers.
Inspire
Lead from where you are.
Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about influence. Own your impact. Lead with intention. Show others what’s possible when passion meets purpose.
The story doesn’t end here. It continues with you.
Don’t wait for permission to lead, for conditions to change, or for someone else to do the hard work. Step forward. Advocate for what’s right. Build the kind of schools and communities our children deserve.
Because progress isn’t passive; it’s personal. And together, we can prove that excellence is possible anywhere.
Advocacy in action
