Reid Singletary, a Columbus County native who grew up in the Williams Township community, is Southeastern Community College’s newest electrical engineering instructor. Graduating from SCC’s electrical engineering program in 2021, Singletary returns to SCC to pass on what he learned just three years prior.  

Singletary attended Williams Township School until third grade, switched to homeschooling and graduated high school in 2019. Inspired by his dad and older brother, who both graduated from SCC’s electrical engineering program, Singletary said they piqued his interest while following in their footsteps.  

“My dad is a jack of all trades and can fix anything,” Singletary said. “We were fixing up a mobile home for a family member when I was younger, and he was showing me how to wire up everything. That was one of my earliest experiences that really caught my interest.” 

Singletary’s former electrical engineering instructor, Dale Lewis, recommended the job to him and encouraged him to join the staff at SCC. Singletary said that Lewis recognized his willingness to help other students in class, and he wants to continue that as an instructor.  

“I want to give the students the same experience I had,” Singletary said. “I was really nervous when I was a student with coming from homeschool, but it was the smoothest transition with coming here. The instructors got right in there, connected on a personal level, made me feel wanted and they connected with every student the same way.” 

One of the central pillars of Singletary’s teaching philosophy is “everyone does not learn the same way.” He explained that the challenge and ability to adapt to every student and their personal needs while giving them a sense of connection and worth embodies his teaching style. 

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life until I came out here, and boom, all these doors opened and all these opportunities,” Singletary said. “I want to show students that there is so much out there, so many opportunities. All you have to do is chase it.” 

Singletary’s first day on the job was July 15, and he assisted in the high school summer camp’s electrical engineering class. He said that was his first time back in the classroom and in a reversed role. 

“So far, I have enjoyed the interaction with the students and watching things click,” Singletary said. “That was a big thing for me with how the instructors really cared about me and adapted their teaching to my learning. That’s something I want to do.” 

Singletary wants to experiment with how things work in the electrical engineering field. He plans to try new methods of completing lab assignments and take his students’ opinions into consideration during class.  

“One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s weird being on the other side,” Singletary said. “I’m so used to being a student, and it’s weird being on the teaching side. But at the same time, it’s really exciting. I’m ready to take what I’ve learned and a lot of the ideas while I was learning and incorporating that into teaching other people.” 

After graduating from SCC three years ago, Singletary came back to take the Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 classes. He has been a volunteer firefighter at Williams Township Volunteer Fire Department since he was 16 years old.  

In addition to being a volunteer firefighter, Singletary worked at Columbus County Emergency Services. He has electrical wiring work experience with PLC systems at Top Tobacco, a production and distribution company based in Lake Waccamaw.  

While not working or fighting fires, Singletary enjoys the farm life at home with hunting and fishing. A self-described “country boy up and down,” Singletary said he loves the outdoors especially on dirt bikes and four-wheelers. He is a lifelong member of Faith Holiness Church and a member of the Columbus County Rope Rescue Team.