Fall 2007 Regional Teacher Forum Workshop

Contact Ann Marie Taylor for more details.

Region 1 November 19 Anderson Library Anderson, SC

Region 2 October 31 Aiken County Career Center Aiken, SC

Region 3 Noveber 1 Robert Mill Courthouse/ Chamber Building Camden, SC

Region 4 October 16 Francis Marion University Palmetto Room in Ervin Dining Hall Camden, SC

Region 5 November 26 USC Walterboro Walterboro, SC

Mission: The purpose of the South Carolina Teacher Forum is to give recognition to the state and district teachers of the year, to develop teacher leadership among this outstanding group, to give teachers a voice in educational issues that face teacher s today at all levels and to impact the professional development of other teachers by encouraging its members to facilitate the development of leadership skills among their peers.

The Teacher Forum serves as a recruitment resource in supporting the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement's other programs in an effort to retain the brightest teachers in the classrooms of South Carolina.

Under the leadership of Terry Dozier, 1985 South Carolina and National Teacher of the Year, the South Carolina Teacher Forum was established in 1986 by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement as part of its mission to improve teacher retention. It offers teachers across South Carolina the opportunity to participate in discussions on national, state and local educational issues; and to dialogue with key leaders and policy makers about a variety of topics affecting the educational system.

The South Carolina Teacher Forum is an organization for the district teachers of the year to provide them with the opportunity to

• participate in discussions on national, state, and local educational issues
• dialogue with key leaders and policy makers about educational issues

Mission

• give recognition to state and district teachers of the year
• develop teacher leadership
• provide teachers a voice in educational issues
• impact the professional development of all teachers

Local Teacher Forums

• approximately half of the state's school districts participate in local and/or regional teacher forums
• led by local district Teachers of the Year
• deal with district educational issues
• Activities include:
  • sponsoring district-wide educational showcases
  • work with school boards and administrators to address district needs
  • sponsor teacher leadership academies
  • sponsor teacher recognition activities
  • network and inform teachers with newsletters

List of Districts/Regions with Local Teacher Forums

Aiken County Barnwell Consortium Berkeley County Charleston County Chester County Chesterfield County Clarendon District One Clarendon District Two Darlington County Dorchester District Two Fort Mill (York Four) Georgetown County Greenville County Greenwood Consortium Greenwood 50 Greenwood 52 Hampton One Kershaw County

Lancaster County Lexington District One Lexington District Two Lexington District Three Lexington District Five Newberry County Oconee County Orangeburg Consortium Pee Dee/Francis Marion Regional Pickens County Richland District One Richland District Two Rock Hill (York Three) Spartanburg 5 Spartanburg 6 Sumter 2 Sumter District 17 Williamsburg County

Published Works of the SC Teacher Forum

• Teacher Forum Training Handbook (1999)

• Preservice Education Recommendations (1995)
  • This document is based on a review of literature and research of model preservice programs, recommendations from frameworks committees and other interested groups, and input from more than 300 classroom teachers from across the state.
    
• Teacher Voices: A Call for Teacher Leadership (1994)
  • This paper contains reflections from teacher leaders and is organized around themes related to teacher leadership and the future of the profession.
    
• Face to Face: A Business Roundtable Report (1991)
  • The South Carolina Teacher Forum sponsored a roundtable talk between leading South Carolina business persons and teachers of the year in the spring of 1989. This report details the discussion.
    
• A Teacher Prepared (1987)
  • Focusing on steps to take to be "a teacher prepared," this report addresses issues of concern of experienced, dedicated, thoughtful teachers.