At CERRA, identifying and recognizing teacher leaders is just the beginning of the work we do to improve and elevate our profession and the learning experiences of students. We know that teacher leaders must also accept the responsibility to use their voices for meaningful reform.

In 2002, the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) made a decision to take teacher leadership to a new level by designing activities that would invite more collaboration between our two teacher leader groups: the SC Teacher Forum Leadership Council (founded in 1988) and the Policy Board for the Board Certification Network of SC Educators (founded in 1999).

With the support of CERRA staff members, the chairpersons for each group led the members through the initial year of collaboration and leadership training that made it possible for the Center to reach an important goal - the inclusion of a wider network of accomplished teachers in more focused activities designed to support improved teaching in South Carolina through recruitment and retention activities at CERRA. In the fall of 2004, the PreCollegiate network joined Teacher Leaders at CERRA with representation on what became the CERRA Advisory Board. Currently, this Board includes teacher leader representatives from all geographic regions of South Carolina and all CERRA programs.

Click here to view the CERRA Advisory Board Constitution and Bylaws (pdf)

South Carolina leads the nation in teacher leadership opportunities, including one of the oldest and strongest Teacher Forums, one of the largest statewide populations of National Board Certified Teachers in the country and instructors for the oldest precollegiate recruitment programs in the nation. Thanks to the support of advocates, legislators, policymakers, and school and community leaders, the Center continues to cultivate teacher leaders.

Goals of the Teacher Leaders:

• Professional Development: Provide opportunities for the professional growth and leadership development of South Carolina's educators.
• Policy: Raise the level of efficacy of South Carolina's educators for educational policy and issues.
• Mentoring: Provide opportunities for South Carolina's educators to cooperate in the training and implementation of the CERRA's retention programs.

Activities designed to accomplish these goals include opportunities and strategies to:

• Gain information about local, regional and state level issues and initiatives
• Network with other teacher leaders, school leaders, policymakers and legislators
• Assume leadership roles and responsibilities tied to state level initiatives

Events:

• Teacher Forum Workshops (regional and statewide)
• SC Mentor Training (implementation of SC Mentoring and Instruction Guidelines)
• Cognitive Coaching^SM Foundation Seminars
• Professional Development opportunities (serving on state level committees, becoming certified trainers in various recruitment and retention programs, taking advantage of state incentives to become National Board Certified)

CERRA Continuum of Programs and Services (pdf)
CERRA Regional Service Areas (pdf)