South Carolina
Our Impact in South Carolina
While South Carolina is rich in culture, history, and community, educational opportunity is not spread equally. Small, rural, and under-resourced schools struggle to fill their classrooms with excellent teachers, contributing to inequitable outcomes between urban and rural students and between white students and students of color.
Teach For America South Carolina (TFASC) is working to recruit, develop, and retain high-quality teachers who transform student outcomes in the state’s most under-resourced schools. Our movement has grown from placing our first corps of 31 teachers in the Pee Dee region to supporting more than 800 teachers who positively impacted more than 70,000 students across the state since 2011. In addition to serving as role models, nearly two-thirds of our first- and second-year teachers achieved over a year’s worth of academic growth in their classrooms – closing learning gaps at accelerated rates.
Our network of teachers and alumni partner with schools and communities to realize the day when every child in South Carolina – no matter their race or zip code – has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility.
“TFASC's ongoing support helped me to achieve the best results in my classroom, and their resources proved to be effective every single time.”
Over
800
teachers developed by TFASC.
Over
70K
students impacted by TFASC teachers.
Over
60%
of TFASC corps alumni still work in education.
Over
800
teachers developed by TFASC.
Over
70K
students impacted by TFASC teachers.
Over
60%
of TFASC corps alumni still work in education.
Communities Where We Work
Lowcountry Region
Lowcountry Region
Anchored by Charleston to the north and Savannah to the south, the Lowcountry is home to salty beaches, winding coastal waterways, and Spanish moss-covered towns and cities. The Gullah Geechee culture is strong here, as are opportunities to explore historical sites and experience many of the South’s top destinations.
The Lowcountry is commutable between placement areas. As a corps member, you may choose to live in the greater Charleston area where you will have access to top restaurants, museums, and beaches. Or you may choose to live in Walterboro, Jasper, or coastal Beaufort where you will have access to charming historic towns, endless outdoor activities, and the opportunity to build deep and lifelong connections in your community.
Finally, if you want to make a significant impact in one of our highest-need rural districts, you might decide to live in Allendale County. From Allendale, you'd also be only an hour away from one of Georgia's most vibrant areas, the Augusta metropolitan area, sitting between the South Carolina and Georgia state line.
Pee Dee Region
Pee Dee Region
Named for the indigenous Pee Dee tribe and nestled in the northeast corner of the state along the watershed of the Pee Dee River, the Pee Dee region balances a charming small-town feel with many opportunities for entertainment, culture, and outdoor adventures, along with proximity to larger metropolitan areas such as Charleston, Charlotte, Columbia, and Greenville.
Many of our teachers choose to live and congregate in Florence, a mid-size town that is located centrally among the other Pee Dee counties. Near Florence, you can visit Lake City, a small town with a fine arts and entertainment scene that rivals any big city. Florence is also less than 80 miles from Myrtle Beach – ideal for day trips throughout the nearly year-round beach season!
Midlands Region
Midlands Region
Located in central South Carolina, the Midlands region is home to delicious barbeque, devoted football fans, and endless festivals, markets, and museums. The Midlands is also home to our most urban placement partner, Richland County School District One, making it a great option for those interested in living and working in Columbia, our state capital.
Corps members in the Midlands may enjoy attending football games at the University of South Carolina (go Gamecocks!), exploring Main Street, the lively shopping and entertainment district, or venturing outside the city to the many trails and lakes within easy driving distance. With its central location, the Midlands is also proximate to the LowCountry, Pee Dee, and Upstate regions of the state, making it a great base for weekend trips to explore South Carolina's beaches, mountains, and cities.
“TFASC teachers infused a momentum in our school culture that was unstoppable and undeniable for the good of our students, our school, and our community.”
Our Programs
Our programs are designed to support you through every stage of your leadership journey—from early exploration into the possibilities of a career in education to targeted development for roles in educational leadership and beyond.
The Teacher Corps is South Carolina’s premier alternative teacher preparation and development program that provides first- and second-year educators with the professional, social, and financial support needed to launch an impactful career in the classroom.
As a corps member, you make a two-year teaching commitment at one of our partner school districts in the Lowcountry, Midlands, or Pee Dee communities. During this commitment, you receive ongoing training, coaching, and professional development from TFASC that enables you to transform student outcomes in schools with the greatest needs. We also provide you with a pathway to teacher certification and a statewide network of like-minded educational equity advocates.
Corps Members will:
- Receive full salary, vacation, and health benefits provided by your school district.
- Obtain a transitional grant to help offset transition and summer training costs (as well as other financial incentives based on eligibility).
- Benefit from our graduate school and employer partnerships, such as deferrals, scholarships, fee waivers, and internships.
- Receive extensive coaching and professional development opportunities alongside your cohort.
- Develop connections with a cohort of corps members across the state and with a network of 60,000+ alumni and staff across the nation.
- Obtain exclusive career and networking website access.
Am I Eligible?
The Teacher Corps is designed for the below applicant types. Click here for more eligibility requirements.
- Undergraduate and graduate students who did not take a traditional education route but are interested in teaching
- Undergraduate and graduate students who did take a traditional education route and believe in TFA’s vision and model
- Non-certified employees in South Carolina schools and school districts, including paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, and substitute teachers
- Career changers who are interested in teaching
How Do I Apply?
Applications for the 2025 cohort are currently open - click here to apply!
Ignite is a national tutoring corps designed to accelerate learning and foster belonging with students. Ignite builds on Teach For America’s (TFA)'s over 30 years of experience recruiting and developing leaders to partner with schools across the country to help students overcome the systemic barriers to an excellent education. Leveraging research-based best practices for high-impact tutoring, the Ignite Fellowship brings exceptional, equity-minded leaders into classrooms virtually to immediately add value with students and schools through customized learning. In South Carolina, fellows support students in two rural, under-resourced school districts during the 2023-2024 school year.
As an Ignite Fellow, you will:
- Lead small group, virtual learning experiences with students.
- Be supported by a school-based, veteran educator.
- Work approximately 3-5 hours per week during regular K-12 school hours.
- Receive a $1,200 (pre-tax) award upon successful completion of the Fellowship term.
Am I Eligible?
The Ignite Fellowship is designed for applicants who are one or more of the following:
Click here for additional eligibility requirements.
- A current undergraduate or graduate student for the spring 2024 semester (both full-time or part-time students are eligible)
- Accepted to the 2024 TFA corps
- A renewing Ignite Fellow
- A deferral from spring 2023 or fall 2023
- TFA alum
How Do I Apply?
Applications for Spring 2025 fellowship cohort are now open - apply here by November 20th.
The Accelerator Academy provides development and context-building to aspiring TFASC corps members by supporting participants with the resources needed to be competitive TFA applicants and, ultimately, impactful SC educators. The program is designed for aspiring TFASC corps members with an explicit desire to teach and lead in South Carolina and who would benefit from additional support, development, and community before applying to the TFA corps.
Accelerator Academy participants attend a six-week virtual course consisting of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. As a participant, you will:
- Receive leadership development and coaching from veteran educators.
- Obtain targeted application and interview preparation.
- Join exploratory activities to build context around the educational landscape in South Carolina.
- Connect with an assigned TFA alumni mentor during one-on-one engagements.
Am I Eligible?
The Accelerator Academy is designed for applicants who meet the below requirements. Please reach out to Dr. Fraronda Green (fraronda.green@teachforamerica.org) with any questions.
- Are interested in applying to the TFA corps who would benefit from additional support and development before beginning the application process.
- Have an explicit desire to teach and lead in South Carolina.
How Do I Apply?
The program is offered twice per year in the Fall and Spring. Reach out to Tess Holt at Tess.Holt@teachforamerica.org for more information.
TFASC's Impact Fellowship is a two-year commitment that enables Teach For America alumni to commit to two additional years in classrooms across the state and provides a unique opportunity for them to expand their skills and leadership capabilities through targeted professional development.
A completely different experience from your time in the corps, the program currently has professional development pathways in Educational Leadership through the Education Leadership M.Ed Program at the Citadel and mid-level leadership opportunities through a program and school of your choice through our Aspiring to Lead pathway. All fellows receive tuition assistance of $4500 per year for the two-year commitment paid directly to the institution.
Additional programmatic elements include targeted cohort PD workshops, individual executive career coaching, and mentorship opportunities.
Am I Eligible?
The SC Impact Fellowship is designed for applicants who meet the below criteria:
- TFA or TFASC alum in good standing
- 2+ years teaching experience (Aspiring to Lead pathway) or 3+ years teaching experience (Educational Leadership pathway)
- Willing to commit to teach for an additional 2 years in a high-need SC school
How Do I Apply?
To apply, submit your application here aligned to the below admissions calendar for the 2026 fellowship cohort:
- December 4th, 2024: Application Opens
- December 4th - March 25, 2025: Rolling applications, interviews, and decision notifications
- August 2025: Program Orientation
TFASC brings our expertise in new teacher development to all first- and second-year educators in partner school districts through the New Teacher Academy (NTA). By providing teachers with crucial support, development, and community, NTA retains more early career educators in South Carolina’s rural and under-resourced school districts that are most impacted by teacher turnover. During the 2023-2024 school year, 93% of our first-year teacher participants were retained for the duration of the school year.
As a participant, you will:
- Attend monthly sessions structured around three pillars of development: Instructional Skills and Best Practices, Teacher Wellness and Emotional Resilience, and Mentorship and Community Leadership.
- Engage in development on classroom management, data-driven instruction, cultural relevance, student engagement, and teacher wellness.
- Participate in one-on-one sessions with experienced teacher coaches to target your individual growth areas.
Am I Eligible?
We’re proud to partner with Colleton County School District during the 2024-2025 school year to provide the NTA program to more than 50 first- and second-year teachers. If you’re a school or district leader interested in learning more about NTA, please reach out to Tori Carle (tori.carle@teachforamerica.org).
Alumni Innovators
Deion Jamison
Deion Jamison
Deion Jamison (TFASC ’17) was named “2023 South Carolina Teacher of the Year” by the South Carolina Department of Education. A year earlier, he received TFA’s “Sue Lehmann Excellence in Teacher Leadership Award.”
“I want my students to see someone who looks like them. I also want them to see teachers who don't look like them. We all benefit from diversity,” said Deion.
Rachel Brailov
Rachel Brailov
Rachel Brailov (TFASC ’15), dean of academics at Compass Collegiate Academy, always knew she would be a teacher. But what she learned about teaching – and herself – through TFASC vaulted her purpose to a whole new level.
“TFASC helped me realize the power I have as an educator – partnering with families and transforming communities,” she said.
Quenton Martin
Quenton Martin
Quenton Martin (TFASC ’17), teacher at Hopkins Elementary School, felt drawn to where there is a greater need of service.
“I believe every child can – with modifications,” he said.
Ali Roberts Van Valkenburg
Ali Roberts Van Valkenburg
Meeting Street Academy Teacher Ali Roberts Van Valkenburg (TFASC ’13) valued the support from TFASC as an early career educator. This support inspired her to become an instructional coach – ultimately impacting more students.
“I truly believe in the transforming power of a good teacher,” said Ali.
Get Involved
Local Leadership
Courtney Waters
Executive Director
Teach For America South Carolina
Courtney has been with Teach For America South Carolina since 2018, leading alumni strategy and programs, external partnerships, thought leadership, fund development and the region’s state funding strategy. She most appreciates that TFA has provided an opportunity to work with state leaders and observe how South Carolina’s education system functions. She believes TFA is uniquely positioned to see the entire field, from policy to the practice of teaching, and align itself to provide innovative, community rooted support to districts across the state. Before joining this team, Courtney worked as a high school ELA teacher and in the supply chain management field in business development. She received a M.A. International Studies from Rhodes College and an M.A. Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Mississippi. She is a member of the Charleston County School District’s Board of Trustees.
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