Longtime Lexington Two educator who spent his career promoting career and technical education opportunities district’s most prestigious honors

West Columbia, SC 03/31/2025 - A longtime Lexington Two educator who spent his career promoting career and technical education opportunities for students has been recognized with one of the district’s most prestigious honors.

Bernie Adkins, who taught for 31 years in the district and retired from the Lexington Two Innovation center last spring, was inducted into the Heroes and Heroines Society during a reception before the March 20 board meeting. Many of the society’s inductees through the years, along with district administrators and colleagues who worked with Adkins, attended the event.

Adkins, a graduate of Midlands Technical College, started his Lexington Two career in fall 1993 at Brookland-Cayce High School, teaching graphic communications, then later becoming the department head for career and technical education (CTE) as well as the district’s CTE coordinator. He later left Brookland-Cayce to serve as a technology coach for both of the district’s high schools, while continuing as the district’s CTE coordinator. He was part of the team that helped develop the Lexington Two Innovation Center, from concept to creation, and was the center’s assistant director for its grand opening in fall 2018.  His commitment to student development, and his innovative teaching methods in graphics and technology, led his classes to produce professional quality work both inside and outside the classroom, including t-shirts, banners, signs and more used throughout the district for many years. Adkins designed the logos for Lexington School District Two and the Innovation Center that are still used today.

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A portion of his nomination reads: “Bernie served as the Lexington Two CTE coordinator and as a districtwide tech coach before becoming the assistant director of the Lexington Two Innovation Center. His largest accomplishment was seeing the Lexington Two Innovation Center from concept to creation. He presented to every civic group in the district to spread our message of the power of career and technical/trades education. He gave tireless energy to the creation of our building and researched every detail of each program to launch our school. His school was an environment where curiosity was encouraged, creativity flourished, and every student had the opportunity to thrive.”

“The most rewarding thing for me as an educator were the relationships built over the years with my students,” Adkins said.

The Heroes and Heroines Society was started in the 1990-1991 school year to recognize retired Lexington Two educators who dedicated their lives to service in the classroom, guidance or media center.  Adkins is the 39th honoree chosen for induction into the society representing the “best of the best” in Lexington Two schools. 

“This recognition is very valuable to me,” Adkins said. “To be nominated and recognized by peers who do this work day in and day out is an honor and very humbling.”