2018-2019 SCASCD Emerging Leaders
PROJECT 3
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Adam Babcock
Spartanburg High School
In his role as technology integration specialist, Adam is constantly curating for, collaborating with or coaching teachers. His day-to-day is atypical as he is always on the lookout for opportunities to develop or deliver professional learning that advances teaching and learning.
Shalonda Blakeney
Bethel Elementary School
As instructional technolgy specialist, Shalonda sets aside time each day to research resources and best practices for integrating technology in the classroom to assist and support teachers. Stating her educational philsophy as "EVERY child has the ability to achieve their goals when given the proper tools, support, guidance, and most importantly love," Shalonda's genuine love for school and learning is evident.
Crystal Chappell
Monaview Elementary School
Crystal says she teaches some of the most amazing 4th grade students as the inclusion teacher for her grade level. During guided reading, Crystal loves talking about books with her students and learning about their interests. She identifies The Wild Card as on of the most powerful books she has read to date. She says this book has helped her realize that school should be fun and engaging in order to really keep students inspired to continue learning.
Lesley Corner
Camden High School
Lesley serves as assistant principal at Camden High School and was the 2016 South Carolina Assistant Principal of the Year and a NASSP National Finalist for Assistant Principal of the Year.
In citing the professional development that has made a difference in her career, Lesley says "Our state (DAPP) and district (APSP) programs for assistant principals increased my network of experts as I grow as a leader. Attending and presenting at state and national conferences leads to further growth and reflection.
Dr. Angela Cox
Greenville County Schools Alternative Program
After sixteen years of teaching in a traditional high school, Dr. Cox spends her day at one of the three Middle School Programs. Staying mobile and flexible, she rotates to each program during the week and provides teachers support by offering professional development opportunities, conducting classroom observations, disaggregating data, mentoring, coaching, modeling research-based instructional strategies, and whatever else they need to be successful and drive student achievement.
Jordan Hudson
Bowen's Corner Elementary
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." These words by Benjamin Franklin guide Jordan's philosphy of education as a fourth grade teacher at Bowen's Corner Elementary. Each morning, Jordan stands at her door to greet her students and welcome them to a new day, beginning each day with a morning meeting to set a positive tone for our day and discuss anything different that might be coming up.
Pamela Inabinett
Discovery Education
Pam's typical day looks different EVERY day! She meets with educators in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee to discuss Discovery Education resources. She participates in EdCamps and EdTech conferences (UTC, NCTIES, SCMidlands Summit, etc.) and meets with team members to discuss strategies to assist our partner schools. When asked how she hopes to have a greater effect on education as an SCASCD Emerging Leader, Pam says "I hope to have a greater effect on education by becoming a change agent in my community and beyond.
Jenna Key
Slater-Marietta Elementary
Serving as instructional coach, Jenna's role is unique in the school because her schedule looks different from day to day; however, she has one common goal every morning ... strive to inspire hope and instill a love of learning in students and teachers. Asked if there a pivotal moment when she realized her career choice in education was the correct one, Jenna says "Thinking back to my time teaching fourth grade in a 100% free lunch/Title I school, there was a precious child in my classroom that did not come from affluent means, but had a wonderful hands-on single mother working so hard to make this child whole and healthy.
Andrew McMillan
Chapman High School
Andrew serves as assistant principal whose day is centered around interacting with as many students and teachers as possible within the classroom. One of his personal goals is to make sure students understand what it means to be college and career ready and accomplishes this is by meeting with individual students to discuss their current graduation progress, their most recent SAT or ACT exam score, and their plans for after high school.
Hamilton Parks
Mauldin Elementary School
Hamilton is an assistant administrator at Mauldin Elementary School. When asked how he hopes to have a greater effect on education in his community and beyond as an Emerging Leader, Hamilton responded: "I truly hope to empower teachers to realize their greatness and maximize on the remarkable ability that they have to change kids’ lives and make a difference. The students that we come in contact with on a day-to-day basis have the entire world in front of them, and spending each school day with them provides us an opportunity to pour so much into their existence.
Jamie Powell
White Knoll High School
As an instructional resource coordinator, Jamie's typical day is doing whatever is needed to support leading, teaching and learning on her campus. Asked if she could make one major change in education, Jamie said, "I believe that some of the most significant changes to education will come in the form of changes to the structure of education. Whether that is revamping what 'seat time' looks like, the structure of a school day, the pathway to graduation, or just simply providing more options to more students, I believe that we have to become innovative with the structure of school in order to support the innovative instruction and learning that we are asking for in our classrooms."
Shayla Read
Greenville County Schools
Shayla serves as an academic specialist for secondary ELA. Her role is to provide leadership for the continued development, analysis, and monitoring of long ragne plans for improving the secondary ELA educational program in Greenville County Schools.
As and SCASCD Emerging Leader, Shayla hopes to collaborate with other leaders on how they might attract quality educators into the profession who are passionate about student success and educator effectiveness. A goal is to develop and implement a plan to showcase our educator heroes in order to show our communities how we define a good educator and how we support teachers as they develop.
Dr. Fran Rogers
Greenville County Schools
Dr. Rogers currently serves as the middle level academic specialist for Greenville County Schools. Believing that all children have a right to a high-quality education where students are valued, experience success, and are prepared for real-world challenges, she wanted realized she wanted to become and educator after enrolling in a service learning program her senior year of high school. As a senior, she viewed the service learning class period as just that – a learning period during the school day. Dr. Cox never would have imagined the impact that the experience would have on her career choice.
Matt Schilit
North Middle/High School
As a high school principal, Matt says every single day brings different opportunities and he loves it. He also says what is always consistent with his days as a school leader is the constant engagement with his students as well as with his team of faculty and staff members. Matt's piviotal moment in education came from working with his very first batch of students. He knew right away that his career choice in education was the right one because he was now able to work with students with a variety of skills and lead them to do the very best that they could. Matt learned early on the importance of building relationships with the students he serves and to always have a heart for each one of them.
Jenny Van Buren
Powdersville High School
As a mathematics educator, Jenny says her primary role is to focus on teaching students while maintining a focus teaching mathematics. On a typical day, she greets each student at the classroom door and starts each class by saying, “Good morning, my people!" Jenny strives constantly to make connections, both personally and between mathematical concepts. When asked why she became and educator, Jenny says, "I am a first-generation college graduate from a low-income, single parent home. I attribute much of my success to the teachers that encouraged and helped shape me into the person and educator I am today. It was my teachers that motivated me to not only be successful in school, but to find a way to make a difference in my community. Thus, I was inspired to become an educator and to work hard to make a difference in the lives of my students."
Marcia Seawright
Heyward Gibbes Middle School
Marcia serves as an assistant principal and beleives that every child has the right to a quality education that prepares him or her with the skills they need to reach their potential and lead productive lives.
Asked how she hopes to have a greater impact on education as an SCASCD Emerging Leader, Marcia says, "Experience is our best teacher. I hope that my experience as a SCASCD leader will not only be a teachable one for me, but it will empower me to teach others about my experience so that they too may be empowered.
Allison Stribble
Boundary Street Elementary School
As an elementary school principal, Allison's daily routines can change on the spur of the moment. However, what is consistent is her education philosophy which is "our mission as educators is to reach every child, every day." Reflecting on her most rewarding experience as an educator, Allison says "As an educator there are many small rewards each day. That reward might be a smile on a child’s face, a hug, or a thank you note from a student or parent, but the most rewarding experience is seeing your hard work help students to be successful. When students celebrate meeting their academic or personal goals that you worked with them to achieve, that is the most rewarding experience as an educator."