Kay Wright Rush graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education from Winthrop College in 1967. She continued her education in 1975 at the University of South Carolina completing a M.Ed in Exceptional Children. She was awarded an Ed.D. in Special Education Administration from USC in 1985. She holds certifications in vocation education, health and physical education, biology, emotionally disabled, mental disabilities, and as a secondary principal.
While at Winthrop, Kay was involved in Sigma Gamma Nu all four years. She has remained involved with the Department through her attendance at The Winthrop Alumni Social at SCAHPERD and her work with the X-PEM Reunion Committee. She was a member of the planning committee that successfully hosted the "Peabody Moving West" reunion with over 125 alumni attending.
Ms. Rush began her career as a physical education/health teacher at Greenwood High School in 1967. After fours years at Greenwood, she took a position with the United States Department of Defense at the RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge base in Suffolk, England. After two years in England, she returned to the states as a teacher of emotionally disabled students at Spring Valley High School. She held this position for six years before moving to Wilson Vocational Center as a teacher of vocational math. She held this position until she was named the Director of Special Services for the Lexington School District One. Kay Rush served as Director of Special Services for Lexington until her retirement in 2006. While working for the Lexington School District, Dr. Rush served as an adjunct professor for the University of South Carolina at Aiken, College of Charleston, and Furman University. She is currently CEO of the Kay Wright Rush Educational Services.
Throughout her career, Kay Rush was an active and involved professional. She holds memberships in the Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Administrators in Special Education, Council for Exceptional Children Pioneer Division, American Association of School Administrators, and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. She has made numerous presentations at the local, state, and national levels and continues to serve as a consultant for various school districts.
On a personal note, Kay is married to Jake Rush and is the proud mother of Kacey Alexis and Jeffery Jacobs. She is the proud grandmother of Damien Jacob Alexander Rush.