There is an urgent need to recruit and retain more highly trained teachers in South Carolina classrooms.
For this reason, Teach For America South Carolina (TFASC) launched the Upstate Expansion Initiative. While remaining strongly committed to existing school and district partners in the Lowcountry, Pee Dee, and Orangeburg communities, TFASC expanded into the Upstate for three reasons: to prioritize geographic equity by serving students in all regions of South Carolina; to provide more regional placement options to teachers; and to gain financial support from potential Greenville- and Spartanburg-based corporate partners.
During this pilot year, TFASC placed eight teachers at Legacy Early College in Greenville and two teachers at Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg as part of the initiative.
TFASC also partnered with Clemson University for the pilot of the Upstate Expansion Initiative. The goals of this university partnership are to help recruit teachers; collaborate with the university’s education department to strengthen TFASC’s training, coaching, and support resources; secure scholarships for teachers to earn graduate degrees; and develop leadership programs for teachers who are interested in administration.
In the year ahead, TFASC will seek to retain currently placed teachers beyond their initial two-year commitment and recruit a new group of talented teachers to the Upstate. TFASC will also explore corporate and expanded school partnership opportunities, particularly with public school districts, in the Upstate.
“By working together, we will create long-term impact – preparing more students to be college- or career-ready and helping to reduce the teacher shortage in South Carolina,” said TFASC Executive Director Troy D. Evans.
