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CCSD partners with UofSC to create Men of CHS Teach
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is committed to building a diverse teacher workforce and preparing all students to be global citizens. High-retention alternative teaching pathways have been created as another means of attracting diverse teacher candidates to Charleston County schools.
Most recently, CCSD has partnered with the University of South Carolina (UofSC) to provide support via Carolina Collaborative for Alternative Preparation. This partnership has been the springboard for Men of CHS Teach, CCSD’s Male Teachers of Color Pathway. This alternative certification pathway is a non-degree seeking route that leads to South Carolina teaching certification in Early Childhood or Elementary Education.
“This opportunity means a great deal to me as I get to help shape the lives of our future,” said Taylor Wright, a candidate for Men of CHS Teach. “I am appreciative of this opportunity and will do my best to ensure that I impact student lives in the best way possible.”
The Men of CHS Teach cohort will follow a residency model, allowing candidates to co-teach alongside effective CCSD teachers. E.B. Ellington Elementary, North Charleston Elementary, Stono Park Elementary, and W.B. Goodwin Elementary are the participating school locations.
“Being a part of this work with Men of CHS Teach is rewarding and makes me proud to be a product and employee of Charleston County School District,” said April Butler, CCSD’s Director of Pathways to Teaching. “The intentionality is inspiring and so I encourage candidates to apply and become change agents in the lives of our students.”
Targeted professional development and mentorship are embedded throughout the experience to ensure that candidates are provided with ultimate support. Additionally, UofSC has partnered with Voorhees College to provide Praxis Preparation resources to candidates in an effort to assist with securing the state-required content level exam.
“The College of Education at UofSC could not be more excited to partner with CCSD on the Men of CHSTeach project,” explained Tommy Hodges, USC’s Dean of the College of Education. “As the state’s flagship institution, we carry with us a mission to address the teacher workforce needs throughout our state. This new pathway marries a number of recent innovations in teacher preparation and is consistent with our College’s commitment to further diversify the teacher workforce.