Gilbert Middle ProTeam Teacher Finalist for Prestigious Award

~Guest Blog Post by Arthur Pinckney, CERRA Program Facilitator

Congratulations to Daphne DuBose, ProTeam Teacher at Gilbert Middle School. Daphne was named the 2013 SC Association of Student Councils’ Middle Level Advisor of the Year!  She has also been named the Region 3 (SC, NC, VA, TN, KY, Washington, DC) Middle Level Advisor of the Year and is one of six finalists for the Warren E. Shull National Middle Level Advisor of the Year.  The winner will be announced June 23 in Las Vegas.  Best of luck to Daphne!!!!

2013 Upstate Teacher Cadet Conference

~Guest Blog Post by Tracie Sweet, CERRA Program Facilitator

Over 200 students and educators were seen tweeting their way through this year’s Upstate Teacher Cadet Conference hosted by Limestone College on March 11th.  Students came dressed to “Surf the Seas of Possibilities on the Technology Wave,” and learn about the future of teaching in a technological age. Teacher Cadets, teachers, and principals were encouraged to invite other students in their school to participate in the conference in an effort to recruit talented young people into the teaching profession.  Participants included students in grades 9-12 from 10 upstate high schools.  Many of the participants indicated that they were sure that they wanted to become teachers.  Some were still undecided, and a there were some who said they did not want to become teachers during the morning activities.  However, as a result of the conference, hearts and minds were changed.  One student tweeted, “This morning I raised my hand to say I didn’t want to become a teacher, but now I am thinking about it.”

Read more about the conference, view a picture slideshow, and view the conference booklet at http://www.teachercadets.com/2013upstate.aspx

Be on the lookout for information regarding next year's Upstate Teacher Cadet conference date and location.

Lowcountry Teacher Cadet Conference is Huge Success!

~Guest Blog Post by Eliza Chandler, CERRA Program Facilitator

On Saturday, February 2, a lively group of forty-eight Teacher Cadets and their instructors gathered at Ashley Ridge High School for our first ever Lowcountry Teacher Cadet Conference. They came together to celebrate being Teacher Cadets and to learn from our invited presenters, fellow teachers, community members, and CERRA staff. Breakout sessions ranged from financial aid tips to working with autistic students to guidance for the Teaching Fellows interviews to finding their "true colors."  Several Teaching Fellows from the College of Charleston participated in a panel discussion about life in college, and the day wrapped up with door prizes.

The feedback we received was tremendous, and we look forward to an even bigger conference next year!

A tremendous thank you goes out to our Lowcountry College Partners for their contributions to this successful day. I also wish to thank Ashley Ridge High School for opening their doors to us!

Pilot Semester of ProTeam Proves a Success

The pilot semester of ProTeam proved to be successful and well-received by students and their families, teachers, and administrators at Alice Drive and Furman Middle Schools in the Sumter area. Check out the article, Pilot Semester of ProTeam Proves a Success, written by Jade Anderson that appeared in The Item.

For additional information about CERRA's ProTeam Program, please visit www.proteamsc.com or call us at CERRA at 1-800-476-2387.

Onboard the O-C Tech Train!

During American Education Week, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College hosted a Teacher Education Field Study for Teacher Cadets and other area students interested in a career in teaching. Students were granted the opportunity to chat with the college's president, Dr. Walt Tobin, Jr., learn more about the education programs offered at O-C Tech, attend education classes, and tour the campus and its facilities. Thanks to Jody Ott and Gloria Caldwell for providing a rewarding experience and allowing the students and instructors to have fun aboard the O-C Tech train! We look forward to the expansion of the Teacher Cadet Program in the Orangeburg area!