When Joshua Powell was first a student at Anderson, he planned to study graphic design and had once imagined a future in engineering. More than two decades later, the 2002 graduate is taking on a new role this summer as assistant director of the Fine Arts Center in Greenville County Schools, the state’s first specialized arts high school. He officially began the role on July 6.
For Powell, the move marks both a professional milestone and a continuation of a lifelong passion for the arts.
Growing up in Anderson, music came first for Powell. He started playing drums at age 7, played in church as a teenager and later learned bass guitar. Then visual arts entered the picture through work on his high school yearbook. That’s where hands-on graphic design sparked Powell’s imagination. When he arrived for college at Anderson, he was surrounded by faculty mentors committed to great academics who helped broaden his artistic horizons.
Powell recalls long nights in campus studios and the guidance of professors who encouraged him to explore multiple artistic disciplines. What began as a graphic design major eventually became a degree in art education, opening the door to a career dedicated not only to creating art but also to helping others discover its power.
His path was not a straight one. After graduation, art education positions were hard to find. Powell spent time as a behavior specialist in Kershaw County, worked as a contractor in Atlanta and began teaching in Anderson School District Five as a learning disabilities math teacher. Eventually, he found his way back to the visual art classroom, where he would spend the next two decades building programs and mentoring students.
In his 21 years at Anderson School District Five, Powell became a driving force behind arts education in the district and beyond. He helped develop Southwood Academy of the Arts while teaching students in visual art and yearbook/journalism, served for 14 years as the district’s visual and performing arts coordinator, and launched and directed the Anderson Five Arts Consortium, a summer artistically gifted and talented program.
During his years with Southwood Academy of the Arts, the school earned Palmetto’s Finest recognition and ranked among the state’s top-performing middle schools academically. Powell represented the district as Teacher of the Year while assuming leadership roles outside of his home district. He has served as president of the South Carolina Art Education Association and chaired Palmetto State Arts Education, helping cultivate professional development opportunities for educators across the state.
After earning a second master’s degree in educational leadership and supervision in 2024, Powell began looking for ways to grow professionally. His new position at the Fine Arts Center means serving in more of a pure administrative role while remaining rooted in arts education.
Powell looks forward to bringing his years of experience to the Fine Arts Center, a renowned magnet school serving more than 480 students from across Greenville County. The school offers intensive pre-professional training in disciplines ranging from architecture and creative writing to dance, digital filmmaking, music, theatre and visual arts, preparing them for success in higher education and potential scholarship opportunities.
As assistant director, his responsibilities range from supporting teachers and overseeing student transportation to coordinating school safety and helping guide instructional goals. It is a significant shift for someone who spent years teaching, but one he welcomes as a chance to keep learning.
Powell believes the arts are an essential aspect of a well-rounded education and a fulfilling life. He sees arts education as a way to help students build creativity, problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking skills while developing a broader understanding of the world around them. Those skills support student engagement, academic success, and preparation for life beyond school.