Three seniors earn prestigious Teaching Fellow scholarships

Cadence Brown

Cadence Brown, a senior at Williston-Elko High School has been awarded the prestigious South Carolina Teaching Fellowship.

Cadence stated, “Looking back at my teachers throughout the years, I realize that they inspired me to want to touch the lives of the youth around me. Many teachers that I had were kind and understanding, they loved teaching, they loved their students, and they persevered even through their frustration. On the other hand, other teachers that I had made it clear in their actions that their zealousness for education or the students they were educating had long since dissipated. Those teachers made me dread coming to class but they also inspired me to give future students a better experience than I had. With that being said, I am so excited, honored, and beyond blessed to begin my teaching career with such a program. I will strive to be an understanding teacher who becomes a figure that her students can and will trust. My classroom will become a safe place for every individual, every unique talent, every race, and every student. My students and I will grow together as we foster the seeds of knowledge and watch them bloom into a beautiful garden.”

Cadence will join the freshman cohort at the College of Charleston this fall where she will be offered numerous professional development opportunities and be involved with communities and businesses through various service projects and partnerships with local schools.

Alexis James

Alexis James, a senior at Williston-Elko High School has been awarded the prestigious South Carolina Teaching Fellowship.

Alexis stated, ““I want to have a positive, inspiring impact on children’s lives, and shape the hearts of future generations. I was inspired to become a teacher from taking the Teacher Cadet course, and from the teachers I had that showed me compassion, care, and empathy.”

Alexis will join the freshman cohort at the University of South Carolina Aiken this fall where she will be offered numerous professional development opportunities and be involved with communities and businesses through various service projects and partnerships with local schools.

Kayla Peters

Kayla Peters, a senior at Barnwell High School has been awarded the prestigious South Carolina Teaching Fellowship.

When asked about this remarkable honor, ­Kayla expressed her excitement for the future, “I am so honored to have earned Teaching Fellows! I can’t wait to move to Clemson and get started on my degree. I look forward to sharing my love of agriculture with my future students.” Kayla’s work

in agriculture at the Barnwell County Career Center positively impacted her future career choice.

“Before Kayla even made it to Ag class, she was visiting our family farm’s cattle and loved agriculture. When she finally entered an agricultural class in January of her Junior year, she hit the ground running,” shared Ag Instructor Mindy Sandifer. “She jumped in 100% with ­every opportunity we could offer her through the Future

Farmers of America (FFA) and learning more about agri­culture. When she realized that she could put her 2 loves – teaching and agriculture – together and become an agriculture educator, you could see her goal was set!”

Kayla will join the freshman cohort at Clemson University this fall where she will be offered numerous professional development opportunities and be involved with communities and businesses through various

projects and partnerships with local schools.

The state’s Teaching Fellows Program, operated by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA), was established in 1999 by the SC General Assembly. The mission of the program is to recruit talented high school seniors into the teaching profession and help them develop leadership qualities. Each year, the program provides Fellowships for up to 200 high school seniors who have exhibited high academic achievement, a history of service to their school and community, and a desire to teach in South Carolina.

Applicants for the program undergo a rigorous selection process that includes an online application, an interview and presentation in front of a team of three educators, and a scored response.

Following the rigorous selection process, applicants who are awarded a Fellowship receive up to $24,000 in yearly scholar­ships (up to $6000 a year for four years) to attend a Teaching Fellows Institution in South Carolina. Each Fellow agrees to teach in South Carolina one year for every year he or she receives the Fellowship.

For more information about the South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program, visit teachingfellowsc.com.