By Dr. Jenna Hallman

Here's your chance to share your thoughts and bring your passion to the forefront!

South Carolina has formed a 17-member Task Force, created by Proviso 1.114 of the 2022-23 General Appropriation Act, to provide the governor and the General Assembly with recommendations for potential reforms to our efforts to recruit and retain teachers in public schools. The task force plans to make recommendations in the areas of:  
           (1)      increasing recruitment to the teaching profession;
           (2)      improving teacher preparation;
           (3)      transforming compensation for teachers;
           (4)      enhancing the effectiveness of teacher evaluation;
           (5)      improving working conditions for all teachers; and
           (6)      identifying best practices from other jurisdictions and designing them for South Carolina.
 
Educators will be given the opportunity to share their perspectives on issues that impact their profession, particularly in relation to entering and staying in the classroom. Below are the dates, times, and venues for the upcoming listening sessions. 

March 13: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Francis Marion University's Chapman Auditorium on Alumni Drive in Florence.

March 20: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Blatt Building, Room 110 - 1105 Pendleton Street on the Statehouse grounds in Columbia. 
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If you are a teacher, or are finishing your education to become a teacher, you may register to attend the Virtual Teacher Expo and Career Fair on March 28-29, 2023. As a Teacher, click the QR code to register or visit ​Premier.

 
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA), I am pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director, Dr. Jenna Hallman. Jenna is currently serving as the Interim Executive Director and will assume the new position on July 1, 2021.
 
Dr. Hallman was born and raised in Coventry, Connecticut. She has a BA in Early Childhood Education from UofSC-Upstate and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Clemson University. She also holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University.

Dr. Hallman started teaching in 1999, achieved National Board (NB) Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist in 2002, and successfully renewed her NB Certification in 2012. Most of her classroom teaching career was spent teaching second grade at Calhoun Academy of the Arts in Anderson County School District Five. She finished her time at Calhoun Academy as the school science specialist. While in Anderson County School District Five, she worked on curriculum writing teams, provided professional development focused on science and math instruction, directed the District’s Camp Invention program, mentored early career educators, and hosted interns from local universities.

Dr. Hallman initially came to CERRA to serve a year-long residency as the 2008-2009 SC Teacher of the Year. Following this residency, she assumed the role of Program Director for Teaching Fellows and National Board support and later added CERRA's Mentoring and Induction and Teacher Leadership programs to her list of responsibilities. Along with her Program Director duties, Jenna served as the Assistant Executive Director from 2012 until she was named Interim Executive Director in March 2021.