Teach For America is a leadership development organization for those who want to co-create a more just world. We find, develop, and support equity-oriented leaders, so they can transform education and expand opportunity with and for children, starting in the classroom.
What We Do:
Talent Recruitment & Matching: We recruit, select, and match tutors, teachers, and principals to schools.
Teacher & Leadership Development: Our programs and strategic partnerships grow leadership, accelerate career paths, and increase the impact of educators throughout the state
Network Support: We connect, convene, and catalyze a network of leaders working to impact students, schools, and communities.
Our Teach For America South Carolina Corps Program is our premier program for those wanting to start a career in education, beginning in the classroom. Our corps members come from ALL academic majors and career backgrounds. Our corps members teach full time for at least two years in an underserved school in South Carolina.
I’m the least expected person to show up as a Teach For America teacher. When I arrived at TFASC’s Pre-Service summer teacher training, I didn’t realize that the organization predominantly targets recent college graduates. That being said, I was inspired by my fellow teachers’ drive and energy, and I was grateful that TFASC allowed me to find my calling later in life. TFASC's training... taught me how to use data to strengthen relationships with parents who are struggling and to give every student the attention they need. One of the best ways that we can help students is to help parents.
TFASC asks you to think about your ‘why,’ and my ‘why’ is to reach out to kids who may feel forgotten – from my previous volunteering in the juvenile justice system to my current teaching of students with disabilities. TFASC is part of the solution to improve the state’s education system because they are strategically looking for teachers who will make a significant impact in their classrooms at an accelerated rate, and they are preparing the next generation of educators to have hard conversations and embrace challenges. [I hope more mature educators like myself join TFASC because] everyone is needed to be the engine that turns this giant ship in the right direction.
Wanda Ashworth-Valencia
Certification-only
Teach For America - South Carolina Teacher Corps Program
From 24 to 24 months
Program Duration
Hybrid
Program Format
Pre-Test Required
No
Program Info
We want to inspire equity-driven people, who are passionate about making an impact in South Carolina, to choose a career in education. Our corps members teach full-time for at least two years in historically underserved schools.
Corps members are:
Selected by Teach For America
Trained and supported by Teach For America
Hired by a local, partner school or district
Paid the same salary and benefits as other new teachers in their district
Certified to teach while in the corps; with the option to pursue long-term professional certification while teaching
Our corps members come from all academic majors and career backgrounds. They do, however, have a few qualities in common. Our corps members believe deeply in kids and families; have a bold vision beyond the status quo and can create meaningful change; work effectively in collaboration with others of diverse perspectives and backgrounds; and operate with curiosity and continuously learn.
Other important information:
There is no cost directly owed to Teach For America in order to be a corps member.
Corps members are required to attend full-time Pre-Service Training for approximately 5-7 weeks in the summer prior to the first year in the program.
During this time, you do receive a transitional stipend but you are not paid for your time in training.
There is an upfront cost of about $200-400 to receive the initial certification required to teach.
If you wish to pursue professional certification, you can do so through our university partner, Francis Marion University.
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Application Fee & Annual Tuition
$400
In State Tuition
$400
Out of State Tuition
$0
Application Fee
Ways to Lower Your Costs
Students at Teach for America- South Carolina have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Teach for America- South Carolina to see if you can, too!
Amount
Description
$5,000- $6,000
AmeriCorps Award
Teach For America SC is an AmeriCorps program, and corps members who are eligible may receive a $5,000-6,000 AmeriCorps Award for each of their two years.
If you wish to pursue professional certification, you can do so through our university partner, Francis Marion University. The cost to corps members is about $3,500. There is also the option to pursue a certification + Master's pathway that is about $9,500.
Vaires
Transitional Grant
All corps members receive a baseline transitional grant to help offset transition and summer training costs.
Additionally, you can apply for need-based grants to support your transition.
Varies
Black Educators Promise Grant
Based on eligibility, this grant focuses on retaining Black educators.
Early Childhood (PK-Grade 3) Elementary Education (Grades 2-6) English (Grades 9-12) History (Grades 9-12) Mathematics (Grades 9-12) Middle Level Language Arts (Grades 5-8) Middle Level Math (Grades 5-8) Middle Level Science (Grades 5-8) Middle Level Social Studies (Grades 5-8) Science (Grades 9-12) Social Studies (Grades 9-12) Spanish (PK-Grade 12) Special Education (PK-Grade 12)
Program Overview
In your first year, you’ll learn how to deliver rigorous lessons, create inclusive learning environments, and exercise self-awareness as you develop relationships with students, families, and fellow educators.
To make sure you’re successful, here are some ways we help you:
Establish Your Teaching Skills:
1-1 coaching
Group learning experiences
Teach For America Summits
Work Toward Your Teaching Certification***
Utilize Your Teaching Resources:
On-demand teaching resources
Mental health counseling
Professional development workshops
Regional support teams
Build Your Community By:
Cultivating connections with fellow corps members
Attending regional social events
Getting to know your school community
Activating your membership to Leadership For Educational Equity
By reflecting on your first year, you’ll develop new approaches to teaching and leadership that sharpen your focus on students' individual success.
In your second year, we’ll help you hone your skills as you explore post-corps leadership pathways that align with your experience, skills, and interests in facilitating systemic change.
Refine & strengthen your teaching skills
Explore your career paths: Identify ways to elevate equity in your career
Learn how to change systems: Understand systems and change efforts for educational equity
Contribute to the community: Lead local efforts alongside peers & your community
Teach For America South Carolina corps members are not required to pursue professional certification, but this license is necessary if you wish to teach beyond your corps commitment and/or be able to transfer a teaching license to other states.
For professional certification, corps members must enroll with our university partner, Francis Marion University.
There are two options with FMU:
Certification Only: 9 credit hours, can be completed in one semester or spread out as you like, anytime within three years of starting the program.
Certification + Master's: 11 month, fully virtual program. Most start in January of their second year and finish in December of their third year teaching.
Upcoming Deadline #1: Apply by 9/18/2023 for an interview decision by 9/26/2023 and final admissions decision by 10/26.
Upcoming Deadline #2: Apply by 10/30/2023 for an interview decision by 11/8/2023 and final admissions decision by 12/16/2023.
Upcoming Deadline #3: Apply by 2/5/2024 for an interview decision by 2/13/2024 and final admissions decision by 3/12/2024.
Upcoming Deadline #4- CRITICAL NEEDS DEADLINE: Apply by 3/15/2024 for an interview decision by 3/22/2024.
Please note that we highly encourage prospects to speak to a Teach For America South Carolina staff member prior to applying. While applying at the earliest deadline might be best for some people, we advise you to apply at the deadline that will allow you to submit the strongest application and prepare most for your interview. There is no admissions advantage to applying earlier than at a later deadline.
Program Hallmarks
As a Teach For America corps member, you will immediately serve as a full-time classroom teacher. It doesn't get more hands-on than that!
TFA provides a robust network of support to ensure you're successful within our model. During Pre-Service Training, you are equipped with a core set of skills to facilitate rigorous and inclusive classrooms. Then, you get the chance to apply what you’ve learned by teaching local summer school students.
In Years 1 & 2, you will receive ongoing coaching, mentorship, and development. You will be able to tap into a wealth of resources to build your instructional skills.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness undergirds every aspect of how we develop your instructional skills and broader leadership.
At Pre-Service, through a combination of modules and learning experiences, you will:
Cultivate self-awareness to increase alignment between intentions, actions, and impact
Draw connections between the inequities in the education system and the roles teachers can play to affect change
Work with diverse individuals toward a vision for educational equity that strengthens student outcomes This development continues throughout your commitment via personalized coaching, mentorship, and development, geared towards supporting your unique classroom and set of students.
As a corps member you are guided by a Managing Director, Leadership Development who serves as your mentor and coach from the time you are accepted to the end of your 2nd year. They observe your classroom at least 3-4 times per year, and through 1-1 coaching conversations, support you in creating a personalized development plan.
You will be connected to an on-demand network of resources and programs to meet your needs as you grow as a teacher leader. TFA also provides access to mental health support, plus targeted career development and coaching to map your long-term professional growth and impact.
Nationally, we partner with BetterLesson and utilize innovative teacher evaluation tools and student experience measures such as Teachstone’s Classroom Assessment Scoring System and Cultivate surveys.
Locally in SC, we partner with Francis Marion University, where through your certification and Master's coursework, you gain access to teaching expertise and build a stronger instructional foundation for the classroom.
Our priorities are centered in the experience of our corps members, their students, and our partner schools, and we leverage an ongoing set of surveys to ensure we are capturing feedback to continuously improve our programming.
Stats
Gender
Male
Female
36%
64%
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