South Carolina: Pee Dee
About Us
While South Carolina is rich in culture, history, and community, educational opportunity is not spread equally here. In South Carolina’s Pee Dee, small, rural, and under-resourced schools struggle to fill their classrooms with teachers, contributing to inequitable outcomes between urban and rural students and between white students and students of color.
Since our inception in 2011, we have worked to recruit, develop, and retain high-quality teachers who transform student outcomes in South Carolina’s most under-resourced schools. Our movement has grown from placing our first corps of 31 teachers in the Pee Dee to developing 800+ teachers across the state since 2011. Together, our corps members and alumni form a network of classroom teachers, coaches, mentors, school leaders, elected officials, and policy makers, all working to build better futures for students at every level of the education system.
Today, we’re expanding our approach from placing teachers in hard-to-staff schools to also developing and retaining outstanding educators beyond the corps: the SC Impact Fellowship supports our alumni to build fulfilling, life-long careers in SC education leadership. Our New Teacher Academy provides our targeted development and training to all new teachers in Colleton County and Jasper County School Districts. And our Accelerator Academy enables more homegrown leaders to find their path to the South Carolina corps and create rewarding careers in the classroom.
Together, we are building a Pee Dee where every child - no matter their race or zip code - has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility.
Over
800
TFASC-developed Teacher Leaders
More than
200
TFA corps alumni living in South Carolina
Over
60%
TFASC corps alumni still work in education
Over
800
TFASC-developed Teacher Leaders
More than
200
TFA corps alumni living in South Carolina
Over
60%
TFASC corps alumni still work in education
Living Here
Living Here
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 is a sparkling gem of nature’s wonders, with a unique combination of scenic waters, pristine parks, and landscapes ripe for exploration.
Corps members teach in Darlington, home of NASCAR’s oldest super-speedway; Sumter or Hartsville, home to charming neighborhoods, vibrant downtown scenes, as well as Coker University; and Williamsburg County, offering some of the state’s most delicious BBQ and situated along the beautiful Black River.
Many of our corps members choose to live, congregate, and hang out in Florence, a mid-size town located centrally amongst the other Pee Dee counties. Florence is home to some of the state’s largest cultural events, such as the Pecan Festival, and hosts a variety of options for entertainment for young professionals, including a popular convention center, a monthly block party during the summer, and a thriving downtown scene.
Near Florence, corps members can make a visit to Lake City, which offers the charm and community of a Southern small town and a fine arts and entertainment scene that rivals any big city, including its beautiful historic downtown and gallery centers. Lake City is famed for its annual ArtFields, a nine-day event that attracts artists from across the Southeast who display their work in venues around town. Florence is also less than 80 miles from Myrtle Beach – ideal for day-trips throughout the nearly year-long beach season!
The Pee Dee offers a charming balance of a small town feel, with expansive opportunities for entertainment, culture, and outdoor adventures, along with proximity to more metropolitan areas such as Charlotte, Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston for easy weekend trips. It’s the perfect area for anyone wanting the best of both worlds. No matter where in the Pee Dee you choose to live, you will be part of a thriving corps community committed to ensuring that each and every one of our students has access to an excellent education. And you will join a network of teachers, school leaders, and families who work tirelessly to create a community where every child can reach their potential and achieve their dreams, no matter their race or zip code.
Our Programs
Our programming is 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.
Our partner, TeachSC, is a program that provides free support to anyone who’s thinking about becoming a teacher. When you sign up, you get perks like 1-on-1 coaching, up to $100 back in fee reimbursements towards expenses related to applying to our programs (including testing and fingerprints), and a chance to win a regional $1,000 scholarship!
Access these resources by signing up here!
Ignite is a national tutoring corps designed to accelerate learning and foster belonging with students. Ignite builds on Teach For America’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 2023-2023 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 $1200 (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?
The Spring Ignite application is now open - apply here by November 15th!
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 TFA corps members with an explicit desire to teach and lead in South Carolina 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. Program components include:
- leadership development and coaching
- targeted application and interview preparation
- exploratory activities to build context around the educational landscape in South Carolina
- 1:1 engagements with an assigned TFA alumni mentor
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. If you're interested in learning more, register here for the interest meeting on September 12th!
- Fall Cohort (September 18th - October 27th): Apply here by September 13th
- Spring Cohort (January 22nd - March 8th): Applications will open on November 6th. Please check back for more details.
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 or Pee Dee communities. During this commitment, you receive ongoing training, coaching, and professional development from TFASC that enables you to transform student outcomes at 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.
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 TFASC’s vision
- 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 2024 are currently open - click here to apply!
The New Teacher Academy (NTA) brings our expertise in new teacher development to all first- and second- year teachers in a partner school district. Program participants attend monthly sessions structured around three pillars of development: Instructional Skills and Best Practices; Teacher Wellness and Emotional Resilience; and Mentorship and Community Leadership. NTA participants also engage in development on classroom management, data-driven instruction, cultural relevance, student engagement, and teacher wellness, and participate in 1:1 sessions with experienced teacher coaches to target their individual growth areas.
By providing crucial support, development, and community to early career educators, NTA retains more early career educators in South Carolina’s rural and under-resourced school districts most impacted by teacher turnover. Through NTA, districts retain more new teachers, ultimately leading to improved teacher outcomes. During the 2022-2023 school year, 100% of first-year teacher participants were retained for the duration of the school year.
We’re proud to partner with Colleton County School District and Jasper County School District during the 2023-2024 school year to provide the NTA program to 100+ first- and second-year teachers. If you’re interested in learning more about NTA, please reach out to Mike VanTyne (mike.vantyne@teachforamerica.org).
The SC Impact Fellowship supports exceptional TFA alumni who are interested in pursuing long-term leadership opportunities in South Carolina. Fellows commit to teach for two years in a high-need partner district while enrolled in one of two tracks aligned to their professional goals. In addition to track-specific development, fellows also engage in executive coaching and cohort-wide leadership development throughout their two-year fellowship. The program is explicitly designed for TFA alumni interested in pursuing long-term educational leadership opportunities in South Carolina. Fellowship tracks during the 2023-2024 school year include:
Educational Leadership:
- Designed for teachers with 3+ years of experience who want to move into administration in the next 2-3 years
- Fellows enroll in the Citadel’s two-year MEd in Educational Leadership program; following completion of the program, fellows are licensed and certified in Administration in South Carolina
- In addition to a tuition discount from the Citadel, fellows receive a $4,500 tuition contribution from TFASC
Aspiring to Lead:
- Designed for teachers with 2+ years of experience who are interested in pursuing mid-level leadership positions (instructional coach, dean of students, curriculum specialist, etc.)
- Fellows enroll in a Master’s program of their choice and receive a $4,500 tuition contribution from TFASC
Am I Eligible?
The SC Impact Fellowship is designed for applicants who meet the below requirements. Please reach out to Tess Holt (tess.holt@teachforamerica.org) with any questions.
- Are a TFA alumni in good standing
- Have 2-3+ years of classroom experience (depending on chosen track)
- Are willing to teach in a high-need TFASC partner district for two years during your fellowship term
- Have an explicit desire to move into educational leadership positions in South Carolina
How Do I Apply?
Applications for the 2024 cohort will open on November 13th, 2023. Please check back in early November for information on how to apply.
Changemakers Wanted.
“[TFA South Carolina’s] ongoing support helped me to achieve the best results in my classroom, and their resources proved to be effective every single time.”
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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