Pathways To The Classroom: How To Become A South Carolina Teacher

The traditional and most common way to become an educator is for a student to graduate from high school and then complete a four-year undergraduate program at a college or university. In South Carolina, there are 31 programs approved by the State Board of Education to prepare educators for employment.

There are also, however, some alternative ways for adults to become teachers without attending college educator-preparation programs.

Special Programs for Aspiring Teachers

There are a number of ways that South Carolina supports students who want to become teachers. Starting in middle school, the following continuum of special programs offers opportunities for you to explore teaching careers, receive help getting into and graduating from college, and obtain real-world classroom teaching experience.

For Middle School and High School Students

ProTeam

Middle school students in the 7th or 8th grade in the top 40 percent of their class can learn more about career planning and the teaching profession by applying to participate in ProTeam, a one semester or year-long learning program designed and sponsored by CERRA. In addition to regular courses, ProTeam students get to spend time with trained teachers, counselors, and older students who introduce the basics of career planning, with an emphasis on the teaching profession. For more information, visit www.cerra.org/proteam or contact CERRA.

Teacher Cadets

High-achieving high school juniors and seniors with an interest in becoming teachers can apply to South Carolina’s Teacher Cadets, another program designed and funded by CERRA. Students accepted into the program enroll in a college-credit course (in most cases) in which they study subjects such as child development, education history, and teaching methods. Teacher Cadet programs are available in the majority of South Carolina high schools, and many colleges and universities across the state offer college-level credit to students who successfully complete the program. Thousands of former Teacher Cadets are now teaching in South Carolina public schools. For more information, visit www.cerra.org/cadets or contact CERRA.

College HelpLine

The College HelpLine program can help students find and apply to the right college or university and identify sources of financial aid. Those who plan to become teachers are given priority status in the program, along with minority students and students who will be the first in their families to attend college. The program, which publishes the College HelpLine newsletter, strives to help students avoid potential roadblocks on the path to college entry. For information, visit www.cerra.org/general/helpline or contact CERRA.

College Partnerships

The College Partnership connects participating colleges and universities in South Carolina with individual high schools' Teacher Cadet classes. High school students can earn college credit from College Partners by successfully completing their high schools' Teacher Cadet programs.

For College Students

Teaching Fellows

Designed for high school seniors, the prestigious Teaching Fellows program enables up to 200 students per year to receive $24,000 each to cover four years of tuition while they complete degrees that lead to certification as teachers. Eleven South Carolina colleges and universities participate. To meet program requirements, students in the Teaching Fellows program agree to teach in South Carolina one year for every year they receive the scholarship. Applications are available from high school guidance offices or can be downloaded from the CERRA Web site. For more information, visit www.cerra.org/fellows or contact CERRA.

“Call Me Mister”

The “Call Me Mister” program seeks to recruit, train, certify and secure employment for 200 black males as elementary teachers in South Carolina 's public schools. Call Me MISTER (which stands for Men Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) combines the special strengths of Clemson University with individualized instructional programs offered at Benedict College, Morris College, Claflin University, South Carolina State University, as well as four two-year institutions, Midlands Technical College, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, Tri-County Technical College and Trident Technical College. Contact: 800.640.2657, www.callmemister.clemson.edu, or e-mail wholton@clemson.edu.

Program for Recruitment and Retention of Minority Teachers

This program recognizes the need to greatly expand the pool of minority teacher candidates. Housed at South Carolina State University, it recruits and supports non-traditional students (primarily teacher aides and technical college transfers) by offering scholarships and academic assistance.

Alternative Pathways

Career and Technology Education

While Career and Technology Education (CATE) teachers may follow the traditional pathway through college to become educators, the state provides for an alternative path that gives credit for work experience rather than requiring an undergraduate degree.

Diverse Pathways

The primary goal of the Diverse Pathways project is to support the development of a teaching force in South Carolina that reflects the state's population by encouraging a pathway from the two-year college level to four-year teacher education programs.

Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE)

To address critical teaching shortages in South Carolina, the South Carolina General Assembly provided for a conditional certification program as part of the 1984 Education Improvement Act.  The purpose of the program is to enable degreed individuals, who otherwise do not meet certification requirements, to gain employment in the public schools in a critical need subject area teaching position  and/or in  a critical geographic area where teacher shortages exist, as determined annually by the State Board of Education.  Eligible candidates are enrolled in a series of training seminars and workshops as well as graduate courses which lead to their professional certification.

The Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) is South Carolina's alternative route for certification.

Troops to Teachers

Troops to Teachers is a federally funded program assisting former members of the Armed Forces, as well as National Guard and Reserve personnel, with the opportunity to pursue a second career in public education. Eligible veterans may receive either a scholarship of up to $5,000 to assist in attaining teacher certification or a $10,000 incentive bonus for agreeing to teach for three years in specific school districts in South Carolina.