About Us
Leadership Team
Director of The Refocus Academy
Phone: (803) 536-4473 x 75901
Email: craig.james@ocsdsc.org
Mr. Craig James
Mr. James is from Norway, SC and the son of Robert and Varrian James. He attended Blackville public schools grades K-11 and completed his high school education at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School. He is a graduate of South Carolina State University, earning a B.A in Criminal Justice. He was employed by the South Carolina Department of Corrections as an investigator. From there, he was gainfully employed by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole Services as a Special Agent in Barnwell County, SC.
Mr. James then pursued a career in the educational field of study as he served as the Law Enforcement Instructor at Cope Area Career Center in Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4. While at the Cope Area Career Center, he earned his M.A in Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix. Mr. James is passionate about kids from his community and served as the director and head coach of the Norfield Hornets Football program for 17 years, posting an overall record of 119-9 including 16 league championships and two national championships in 2012 and 2016. These young men were also responsible for earning back to back Class A State football championships in 2013 and 2014 for The Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School Trojans. Mr. James was then afforded his first administrative position as he served as Assistant Principal at Wade Hampton High School, Hampton School District 1.
Mr. James then returned to his home county and served as Assistant Principal under the tutelage of Dr. Casandra Jenkins at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. He was then selected as the first director of Orangeburg County Alternative School (Currently Refocus Academy) upon consolidation in 2019.
Mr. James is married to Dr. Jessica Brabham-James who serves as an Administrator in Barnwell School District 45 and has one son, Brandon James, who is currently at the University of South Carolina seeking a degree in Pharmaceutical Science.
Assistant Director
Phone: (803) 536-4473
Email: deneathra.butler@ocsdsc.org
Dr. Deneathra Butler
Dr. Deneathra Monique Butler is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina. She attended the public schools in Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five. In 1999, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Education from South Carolina State University. In 2004, she received a Master of Education Degree from South Carolina State University in Counselor Education. In 2007, she received the Global Career Development Facilitator’s Certificate. In 2012 she received her Educational Specialist Degree from South Carolina State University. Additionally, she received her Doctorate of Education degree in 2015 from South Carolina State University in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Butler has worked in the educational arena for twenty-four years. Most recently, she finished her fifth year as a middle/high school principal in rural South Carolina. She has taught middle school English and high school English. She has worked in rural South Carolina as a middle school counselor and a high school counselor. Dr. Butler believes that all students can learn. Dr. Butler tries to instill in all students that she works with on a daily basis that hard work does pay off. Additionally, she emphasizes that respect will take you a long way in life.
In Closing, Dr. Butler knows that none of this would be possible without God’s Grace and Mercy.