Stories
In his classic Schoolteacher (1975), sociologist Dan Lortie coined the term “apprenticeship of observation” to describe the thousands of hours we spend as students observing and evaluating educators in action. He explored the hazy perception these hours generally lead most of us to hold about teachers and teaching.
Perhaps no other profession creates more stories in a class period, day, or year than teaching. And almost all of those stories go untold. As part of SC-TEACHER’s work to understand the impact of the state’s teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention policies and practices, we are sharing stories from educators—firsthand from their classrooms and schools—so we can be reminded of what they experience NOW. We have much to learn from them.
South Carolina Among States Looking to Micro-Credentials
to Reduce Teacher Turnover
By Bev Perdue, Governor of North Carolina (2009-2013) Chair and Founder, digiLEARN Recently,…
November 1, 2022
Personalized Professional Learning: The Parachute Leaders Need
by Katrina L. Singletary, Director of Secondary Education, School District of Newberry County…
September 8, 2022
Possibilities and Opportunities
by Rhoda Jane Bowers, First Grade Teacher, Brennen Elementary “Education is the most powerful…
July 28, 2022
The Power of Listening
by Alyssa Cameron Likens, Sixth Grade English Language Arts Teacher, Gable Middle School It was…
July 28, 2022
One More Time
by Alexis Kelly, Fifth Grade Teacher, H.E. Corley Elementary There I am, nervously pacing around…
January 5, 2022
Belief and Support: What First-Year Teachers Need
by Yesenia Solis-Laboy, Second Grade Teacher, Lake Carolina Elementary It was our open house two…
December 29, 2021
Finding the Light
by Ashley Harmon, Science Teacher, Blythewood Middle School As the early sun begins to rise from…
December 22, 2021
Finding the Joy
by Anna Maria Gardiner, English Teacher, Spring Hill High School My first year teaching Soon…
December 15, 2021
Finding My Rhythm as a New Teacher
by Carson Coomes, Orchestra Director, Blythewood Middle School As a fourth grader, I remember…
August 31, 2021
Carolina Transition to Teaching: We’re Better Together
The Carolina Transition to Teaching Program, funded through a US DoE Teacher Quality Partnership…
May 20, 2021
Takes One to Know One: How Empathy Made Me a Better Teacher
by Demetrius Williams Computer Lab Aide at North Springs Elementary Have you ever had that dream…
March 12, 2021
Why I’m Still Here: Reflections on the Choice to Teach
by Alexis Deese-Smith 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher at R.H. Fulmer Middle School…
November 6, 2020
My Community of Mentors Lift Up, Support Learning — For All of Us
by Daniel Hoilett 2nd Grade Teacher at Brushy Creek Elementary October of 2015 had arrived. Many…
September 24, 2019
Bridging the Gap with Support and Planning
by Madalyn Hazlett Dreher High School Mathematics Teacher At the end of my first year of teaching,…
August 13, 2019