Marty McKenzie, President

Email: President@nfbofsc.org

Marty R. McKenzie holds a bachelor of arts in English with secondary teacher certification from Francis Marion College class of 1992, a Master’s Degree in Education in special education with an emphasis in visual impairment from the University of South Carolina Columbia campus class of 1994 and an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University class of 2010. He holds every administrative certification except that of Superintendent.

 

Mr. McKenzie serves as the Principal of Statewide Blind and Visually Impaired Education for the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, as well as the Statewide Vision Consultant for the South Carolina Department of Education and the Office of Special Education Services. He has provided training including graduate level work for teachers of the visually impaired for almost 30 years and continues to serve both teachers and students in various capacities. 

 

Mr. McKenzie is well-known for his expertise in both the fields of blindness and visual impairment and access technology. In addition to his other commitments, he serves as the President of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina (NFB of SC), President of the Clarendon County Chapter of the NFB of SC, and as a member of the Computer Science and Technology Division of the NFB of SC. 

Mr. McKenzie served as the District Six representative on the Board of Directors of the NFB of SC from 2000 to 2016 and  again from 2020 to 2022. He was elected to serve as the President of this organization at the 2022 convention.

 

As an Ex Officio Trustee for the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) since 2005, Mr. McKenzie served on both the APH Educational Products Advisory Committee and the APH Educational Services Advisory Committee and went on to chair both committees in his last year on each. In the role of Ex Officio Trustee, Mr. McKenzie administers the APH Federal Quota Program for the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind and the SC Department of Education as established under the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of 1879.

 

Mr. McKenzie served as the Chairman of the SC Vision Education Partnership of which the NFB of SC is a founding member from 2010 to 2011 and then from 2015 until present with Dr. Tina Herzberg serving as co-chair. Additionally, he served on the SC State Library Board of Directors from 2012 through 2022 as appointed by then Governor Nikki Hayley. Mr. McKenzie began serving on the SC State Library Talking Book Services Advisory Council in 2005 and continues in this role today.

 

Mr. McKenzie has held many leadership positions over the years in the field of blindness education and is recognized nationally as a leader in the field.

 

Mr. McKenzie is the third of four boys born to the late Jackson Arnette and Mattie Nell McKenzie and was educated in Williamsburg County. At age 17, he became the church organist and has led his congregation in worship for 38 years. He is a founding member of Cornerstone Ministries and has served as a deacon since February, 2003. He has consistently provided church bulletins for the past 40 years and enjoys his church family immensely.

 

In his spare time, Mr. McKenzie enjoys time with close friends and family, playing for his congregation as well as participating in hymn sings, reading and good food.

 

(843) 939-8091