BY SUZANNE KOTY

Teach to Lead will host its 12th Teacher Leadership Summit.
May 5-7, 2017
Columbus, OH

Teach to Lead supports teachers as experts in instruction and in their students' needs.  The Teach to Lead Summit provides teachers and their supporters with time to collaborate and to incubate innovative ideas that can lead to a positive impact on schools, communities, districts, and states.

Don't wait.  The deadline to apply is April 3, 2017.  If your idea is accepted, you will be notified by April 8, 2017.

If you have additional questions, you may contact the Teach to Lead educator engagement team.
Amanda Barney          Emily Davis          Tami Fitzgerald

​We are pleased to bring you the third edition of the South Carolina Teacher Leadership newsletter.  Our goal is to provide a collaborative resource that highlights state and district level teacher leadership activities, outlines issues related to South Carolina education, and sparks ideas among our Teacher Forums.

District Teacher Forums in Action
District Teacher Forums across the state are participating in a variety of activities to advocate for the profession. Members of the Kershaw County Teacher Forum met with legislators to discuss current issues, and the Greenville County Teacher Forum held its second annual golf tournament to raise money for scholarships.  We are just days away from the Upstate Regional Meeting hosted by Spartanburg 6. 

​Throughout the week of March 6th-10th, State Superintendent Molly Spearman traveled the state surprising five teachers who have been selected as the 2018 South Carolina Honor Roll Teachers.  These five teachers are finalists for State Teacher of the Year.  They will now conduct interviews and videotaping as part of the process for the selection of the next South Carolina Teacher of the Year.  Each of these educators will be celebrated at the South Carolina Teacher of the Year banquet.  The Honor Roll Teachers will work with the 2018 South Carolina Teacher of the Year to advocate and promote teacher leadership throughout the year.  

​     Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet my fellow 2017 state teachers of the year in Dallas, Texas.  As the trip approached, I was filled with anxiousness as to how I could compare to these no-doubt outstanding educators.  No matter what title I may hold, in my mind, so often I am still a little girl from Gaffney, SC.  While I am proud of what that means, I get nervous that I won’t be enough.  But as the week began to unfold, I found the most interesting truth to reveal itself; every one of us had that same fear.  Time and time again, as a teacher would be sharing his or her story on who they were and why they were there, a statement was echoed, “I ask myself, why me?”
     You may ask yourself that same question, and if so, I want to share the words we received in response.  Because you represent all that is good in education.  Because you love your students and serve them in incredible ways every day.  Because you are an integral part in how lives are transformed through education.  Each of you has a unique and powerful story that speaks to the passion of our profession and can ignite a similar desire in others.  Use that story.  Share that story.  It is the answer to the question, “Why me?”
     To drive this point home just a bit more, I have one of my own stories to share from the week.  As several of you know, we had a special guest with us: Renee Zellweger.  As you might expect, we regularly circled around her to ask questions, but what we quickly learned was that she wanted to hear from us.  She wanted to know what she could do to help support education.  She sees the value in what we do every day, and she wants to be a part of it.   And when my friend, Ryan (2017 Wyoming Teacher of the Year) introduced himself and said he was a 7th grade science teacher, she immediately responded with a sigh and, “I loved my 7th grade science teacher; her name was Ms. Solstice!”  Dear friends, there are students throughout your schools, cities, and this great state and nation that say the same thing about you!  You are mentors; you are life changers.  You are girls and guys on fire!!!                                                                    --Jennifer Wise
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National Education News
Visit the Education Commission of the States' website for a complete listing of educational priorities as identified in each state in the 2017 State of the State addresses.

South Carolina Education News
In 2018-19, South Carolina will begin using a new evaluation tool for all classroom-based teachers.  The South Carolina Teaching Standards 4.0 rubric will become part of the Expanded ADEPT Support and Evaluation System.
 
The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards has released its 2017-18 dates.  Those interested in pursuing National Board Certification can register as early as April 1, 2017.  South Carolina is proud to have 8,928 NBCTs.
 
The General Assembly is now in session.  It is important that our legislators know about the “big issues” in education and how they can support you as teachers and support your students.  Remember to share your stories. 

George Couros asks us to ponder this question.  Are you telling your story?  If you aren’t, it’s likely someone else will.  He also reminds us of what General Erick Shineki said, “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.” 

Kayla Delzer talks to us about the importance of developing digital footprints while also reminding us that technology does not enhance every lesson.  She says about student-centered learning that if we “[e]mbrace their knowledge…they’ll embrace their learning.”

When you advocate for your students and your profession, remember to tell your story.  Your stories can be a powerful call to action.