McKinney-Vento/School
District Representative

Early Childhood Expert
University of South Carolina

Dr. Cassandra Legette currently serves as the ThriveRichland Coordinator, leader of the birth to five programs established in Richland County School District One. Dr. Legette believes that school readiness begins prenatal and a key element in promoting readiness involves a multifaceted approach that involves schools, families, and communities collectively working together. She has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education which includes classroom teacher, interventionist, 4K coordinator, adjunct instructor, and district administrator. Dr. Legette received a B.A. from the University of South Carolina Aiken in Early Childhood Education, a M.Ed. in Education from Cambridge College, and an Ed.D. in Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning from Walden University.

Katie Levkoff is a Philanthropy Officer at United Way of the Midlands, where she manages annual leadership gifts, direct marketing efforts, and the leadership giving advisory cabinet. Katie joined United Way from the Darla Moore School of Business, where she taught courses and provided business undergraduate career management consultations. She is a native of New York and received a BA from Wheaton College (Massachusetts) and an MSE from the University of Kansas. As a parent herself, Katie cares deeply about early care and education for at-risk children.

Absolute Total Care/
Community Outreach

Matthew McDaniel is an Assistant Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at Truist, where he specializes in bringing the full resources of the commercial bank to for-profits, non-profits, and municipalities all over the Midlands.  A proud husband and father of two, Matthew is passionate about solving the problems facing children in the Midlands.

Growing up in Orangeburg, he saw first-hand the impact of a lack of early care resources – for himself and other families struggling to navigate difficult situations.  Naturally, as his own career blossomed, he began supporting institutions that provide hope to the most vulnerable members of his community.  Upon completion of the United Way’s Blueprint for Leadership course in the Spring of 2023, board membership became the most logical next step.  Matthew is honored to have the opportunity to serve the families, and specifically the children of the Midlands.

Community Outreach
Attorney/Magistrate Judge

M. Rita Metts is an Attorney and Mediator.  She started the Metts Law Firm in 1996, and owns and manages a law office and support staff in Columbia, South Carolina. Her law firm, Metts Law Firm, LLC serves all of South Carolina in the areas of Social Security Disability, Veteran Disability, Personal Injury, Workers Compensation and Divorce. She was appointed as a Magistrate for Richland County in 2011, where she handles criminal and civil trials as well as bond hearings and guilty pleas. 

She graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1993.  She is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, Richland County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association, and Black Lawyers Association.

She is originally from Newberry, South Carolina, the daughter of Jimmie R. Metts and Mildred Suber.  She has two sisters who a RN and Nurse Practitioner, respectively, and 7 nieces and nephews.  She loves to travel with family in and around the country.  She volunteers her time with the SC Bar’s Mock Trial Competition, as well as her time and money to those less fortunate.  

Community Outreach/CMO
Riverbanks Zoo

Lochlan Wooten has spent more than 18 years helping nonprofits connect with their communities. As the Chief Operating Officer at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden she enjoys connecting our community to wildlife and wild places. She is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and graduate of Washington and Lee University.