DiscussED
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TFASC’s Second Annual DiscussED

Transforming the Teacher’s Experience

February 2023

As we emerge from the pandemic, which exposed deep inequities and dated pedagogical practices in education, South Carolina’s public schools are facing worsening teacher shortages. Retaining high-quality educators is most urgent in South Carolina schools serving high concentrations of low-income students and students of color. If a classroom doesn’t have a teacher, schools often turn to long-term substitutes, cutting courses, or larger class sizes – putting students at risk of not attaining the excellent education they deserve.

While the South Carolina Legislature recently approved a four percent pay raise for all teachers, excessive paperwork, a “teach to the test” mentality, and an overall lack of respect for the teaching profession are among the factors driving the teacher exodus according to The Post and Courier. 

During TFASC’s Second Annual DiscussED, “Transforming the Teacher’s Experience,” we explored the transformation of the teacher’s experience to retain more high-quality educators in South Carolina. What if teachers, district administrators, policy leaders, community advocates, and business leaders came together to propose a plan for transforming the teaching profession? What would change if South Carolina’s education stakeholders rallied together to advocate for the teaching profession and, ultimately, students?

“DiscussED is a bold endeavor to push the boundaries in education for our children. If our vision is that every child deserves a great education, then we must have these conversations. It is my hope that these conversations become strategic plans.”

Kimberly Sutton Mason »
Principal, Rosenwald
Elementary and Middle School

Sergio Arroyos Tulsa
Krystal Hardy

Program

Opening Remarks
Courtney Waters
Executive Director, TFASC

Expert Panel
The Teacher’s Experience: What Does the Research Tell Us?

Facilitator:
Courtney Waters

Panelists:
Jenna Hallman
Executive Director, Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA)

LaTisha Vaughn
Founding Partner and Chief Programs Officer, Educate, Empower, and Elevate (E3) Foundation 

Expert Panel
The Teacher’s Experience: Perspectives From the Classroom

Facilitator:
Brandon Johnson
Assistant Principal, Greenville County School District 

Panelists:
Mary Adeogun
Middle School Math Teacher, Charleston County School District

Anjali Bhatt
TFASC Teacher, Florence County School District Three

Hunter Britton
Middle School Teacher, Darlington County School District

Deion Jamison
2023 South Carolina Teacher of the Year 

Breakout Discussion Groups
Transforming the Teacher’s Experience
DiscussED Participants

Closing Remarks
Courtney Waters

Interested in attending?

We invite corporate, education, legislative, and nonprofit leaders as well as teachers to offer diverse perspectives at DiscussED. If you are interested in attending the Third Annual DiscussED in 2024, please contact Sarah Ann Snipes at sarahann.snipes@teachforamerica.org.

Interested in sponsoring?

Through the generous support of our sponsors, we are able to host this annual discussion that seeks to support teachers and help end educational inequity in South Carolina. Please contact Sarah Ann Snipes at sarahann.snipes@teachforamerica.org to learn more about becoming a sponsor.

Publications

Read the reports and community resource guide from our DiscussED conversation series.

The theme of the inaugural DiscussED, “The Future of Education: 2040 and Beyond,” was intentionally expansive to begin our thought-provoking series. For the Second Annual DiscussED, we took a more granular look at a pressing issue in education today – the teacher shortage crisis – and explored the transformation of the teacher’s experience to recruit and retain more diverse, high-quality educators across the state.

If you are interested in learning more about the organizations, programs, and initiatives that are transforming the teacher’s experience in South Carolina, we are proud to offer the DiscussED Community Resource Guide.

About the DiscussED Series

Hosted by TFASC, DiscussED is a bold conversation series to reimagine South Carolina’s education system. The annual forum convenes diverse perspectives from corporate, education, legislative, and nonprofit leaders to generate more innovative solutions than ideas from the education sector. Each year, DiscussED will focus on a different theme that is rooted in educational excellence and equity.
People Meeting

100% of DiscussED participants would attend the event in the future.

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