Remembering Elaine Baker

Elaine Thomasson Baker, Winthrop alumna and longtime Director of Information Services and spokeswoman for the Rock Hill School District, passed away earlier this summer at Piedmont Medical Center after a long-fought battle with cancer.

Baker graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1964 and went on to attend Winthrop College, where she earned an Associates of Science Degree in Secretarial Science, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education, a Master of Science Degree in Business Education and an Education Specialist’s Degree in Public School Administration.

Baker began working in the Rock Hill School District in 1966 as a member of the office personnel staff. She later briefly worked as a teacher at the Career Development Center, where she taught English and business courses.

In 1974, soon after she began teaching, Baker was approached by the school board and offered a position as Rock Hill’s first Director of Information Services, which would be responsible for orating and providing information for the Rock Hill community on school district matters.

Baker remained in the position for 41 years, retiring in 2015. During her 41 year tenure as the Director of Information Services, Baker established programs such as the Rock Hill Teacher Forum and Rock Hill Teacher of the Year Award.

“We’re a school system that promotes the whole child,” Baker said during a WRHI radio interview in July 2015, in regards to what is the most important message she wanted Rock Hill students and parents to see during her tenure. “A lot of times you only hear about a school’s academics. We want students to be successful in whatever areas they can be.”

After her 2015 retirement, Mychal Frost, a 2002 graduate of Rock Hill High School, replaced Baker as the new Director of Marketing and Communications for Rock Hill Schools. 

“Mrs. Baker was a tremendous friend and mentor to me,” Frost said. “I’m among those who are forever grateful for her service to this community.”

Photo by Olivia Esselman