CH ICEBack to School 2017

220 State Street, West Columbia, SC 29169 • 803.256.2065 • palmettoteachers.org

PALMET

TO S

TA

TE TEACHERS ASSOC

IATION

Since1976

We are thrilled to begin another year of equipping, encouraging, and empowering educators across

South Carolina through the work of the Palmetto State Teachers Association. We will equip you with engaging professional development opportunities. Read about the incredible Edcamp we planned and hosted in the Spartanburg, and learn about the upcoming events in Rock Hill, Columbia, and Charleston. Sign up to receive innovative best practice information via our Remind alerts, and stay connected with us for the latest tools and information on our social media accounts.

We will encourage you this year as we celebrate all of your accomplishments. Each newsletter will highlight the success of our PSTA members and their students! If you win an award, are recognized for your work, or do something incredible in your classroom, let us know so we can share it across the state. We also plan to encourage you at our convention this year as we host principal and teacher comedian, Gerry Brooks, on April 7th in Columbia! We are thrilled to have him speak to SC teachers! Tickets will go on sale for PSTA members first! Stay tuned to our website and social media, as well as your email for more information regarding tickets!

We will empower you by continuing to advocate for your students and the profession at the State House, the State Department of Education, and State School Board meetings. We are here for you, so you can be there for your students.

At this time each year, I have the same feeling as I did during my classroom tenure. New, fresh, and exciting things are in front of us as an organization, and I could not be happier. I love that our work allows us the opportunity to start fresh every August. The students of South Carolina are our most precious gifts, and by advocating for you, we are advocating for them. I am looking forward to a great year ahead!

Kathy Maness Executive Director, PSTA

A LET T ER F ROM KathyWELCOME BACK TEACHERS

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Last year, PSTA hosted its first ever Edcamp in partnership with the Education Department of Converse College. This year, the second annual Edcamp took place on August 26th again at Converse College and the day was filled with even more excitement, hands-on learning, teacher collaboration, and yes… Lots of prizes!

The event was organized and planned by Jed Dearybury along with PSTA members Dr. Julie Jones, Sarah Love, Meg Campbell, Kelli Coons, Dr. Greg Moore, Sloan Joseph, Shalonda Blakeney, Thomas McAuliff, Dr. Shelly Meyers, Kristie Camp, Molly Schwarz, and PSTA President, Matt Johnson. The team of expert educators and countless local and national sponsors invited teachers to learn from one another during this unique PD event.

Over 250 educators from across the Upstate participated in a wide variety of sessions including classroom management, inquiry-based learning, arts infusions, maker spaces, globally connected classrooms, Goose Chase, FlipGrid, Lego Learning Labs, Cardboard Collaborations, and more! Many thanks to the Lily Sarah Grace Fund, Discovery Education Studio, Discovery Place Museum, and Sharp Business Systems for their partnership with teachers in South Carolina.

“This was hands down the best professional development event I have ever attended,” said one teacher. “I have never felt so equipped, encouraged, and empowered! I cannot wait to attend another Edcamp soon!”

Because of the success of the last two years in Spartanburg, we are expanding Edcamp Palmetto across the state this year. We will be at Winthrop University on Dec. 2, Columbia College on March 24, and College of Charleston on April 28. Registration for each of these events will open two months prior. Stay tuned to our social media pages so you can sign up quickly!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edcamppalmettoTwitter: @edcamppalmetto

Follow all the great conversations that happened in Spartanburg by searching #edcampPAL on Twitter.

If you know a business that would like to sponsor breakfast, lunch, door prizes, etc. for any of the above events, please contact Jed Dearybury at mrdearybury@palmettoteachers.org.

Edcamp Statewide Sponsors…. SO FAR!

Thanks to these businesses for becoming statewide partners with us as we bring Edcamp Palmetto to the teachers of South Carolina!

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Two years ago, PSTA member and teacher, Kim Smoak, who then worked for University of South Carolina in the education department, approached us with an opportunity to help her preservice teachers by hosting a professional clothes closet. Kim explained that many of her students could not afford the professional clothing needed to complete their clinical and student teaching experiences. Textbooks, tuition, room and board and fees often kept those students from being able to shop for the professional clothing they needed. PSTA loved this idea and quickly sought ways to make the closet happen.

After two years of successful events in the Columbia area, we decided to take the clothes closet on the road this year to each of the four Edcamp Palmetto events. “It was perfect”, said Director of Association Activities, Toni Chewning. “All of the Edcamps are on college campuses, and that’s where the greatest needs are. Why ask them to drive to Columbia, when we can take the clothes to them?”

The first traveling clothes closet was opened during the edcamp event in Spartanburg and the turnout was great! Toni, along with Kathy, Taylor, and Craig, staffed the closet during the entire event, and students from multiple Upstate colleges and universities left with bags full of needed clothing. “It makes me so happy to see these future teachers leave with things they need. It takes away so many worries for them, so they can focus on becoming the best teacher they can be,” said PSTA Executive Director, Kathy Maness as she spoke with WSPA Channel 7 reporter, Rachelle Spence. You can watch the full story here: http://wspa.com/2017/08/26/converse-college-hosts-educational-camp-for-teachers/

We are excited to take the clothes closet to the remaining edcamps this year. If you know students studying to become educators, make sure they know we will be at Winthrop on Dec. 2, Columbia College on March 24, and College of Charleston on April 28. If you would like to donate to the cause, please reach out to us! Receipts are available.

PSTA Clothes Closet

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATECraig KingDirector of Governmental Affairs

• Increasing the Base Student Cost to $2425

• $6 million for summer reading camps

• $56 million for Abbeville Equity School Districts Capital Improvements

• $19 million for Career and Technology (modernizing vocational equipment, Tech Prep, and High Schools that Work)

• $12 million to aid districts with technology

• $375,000 in teacher supplies

• $20.5 million for school bus purchase

PROVISOS PASSED

1.92 – Committee on Educator Retention and Recruitment – This new proviso establishes a study committee to

address the issue of educator recruitment and retention to include identification of the causes of teacher shortages

and the state’s educational system’s future demand for teachers. Recommendations should, at a minimum, include

building teacher recruitment, alternative certification, financial incentives, induction and mentorship, evaluation and

feedback, and teacher leadership. The committee is composed of 19 members, including a representative from the

Palmetto State Teachers Association.

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION PROVISO

1A.80 – National Board Certification Incentive – The Senate approved that June 30, 2018 will be the last day for

eligible teachers to submit the initial application and fee to be eligible to receive the state supplement of $5,000

upon receiving certification.

1A.82. (SDE-EIA: School Districts Capital Improvements) Eligible school districts include districts in the Abbeville

lawsuit who will receive 70% of funds and all other school districts with a poverty index of 80% or higher will receive

the remaining 30% of funds.

1A.88. (SDE-EIA: Teacher Academy Pilot) Of the funds appropriated to the Education Oversight Committee,

$100,000 shall be utilized to pilot a Teacher Academy project to improve teacher recruitment and retention. The

Academy shall provide intensive professional development to beginning, novice, and struggling teachers during the

summer prior to the current school year.

There are numerous committees meeting this fall that will impact public education. PSTA will be offering input during

all of these meetings. The committees are the Teacher Salary Study Committee, Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Study Committee, Senate School Equity Committee and Joint Committee on Pension Systems Review. If you have any

input for any of these committees, please email Craig King at govrelations@palmettoteachers.org.

Visit www.scstatehouse.gov to find your House and Senate members.

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PSTA MEMBERS BECOME AUTHORSTeachers never truly take summers off. Kelli Foster and Mandy Loudermilk of

History Underground are no exception. These two US History teachers have

been busy this summer! After realizing the resources from major textbook

companies were not cutting it, the upstate teachers decided to write their

own student guidebook, The Survival Guide to the SC USH EOC. This unique

book is written in a fashion that appeals to students on their level and with

their “lingo.” In addition to brief, easy to read summaries of each indicator,

it includes 215 multiple choice questions, 430 free response questions, and

43 activities. The book is fully aligned to SC standards and broken down by

indicator. Keep watch for their next book, The Teacher’s Survival Guide to

the SC USHC EOC, came out late August! Want to get your own copy or have

questions? Email them at historyundergroundus@gmail.com.

STRATEGIES FOR TEACHER ADVANCEMENT & RENEWAL (STAR) STAR is a program to recognize and reward outstanding veteran SC teachers. It is sponsored by the Foundation for

Professional Development and PSTA. Any outstanding veteran teacher who has taught for more than 5 years in SC’s

public schools and is currently teaching in the South Carolina public school system may apply. Guidance counselors

and media specialists are encouraged to apply. Teachers should complete the STAR application. They must prove

through the application and letters of reference that they are outstanding educators. Applicants answer an essay

question and must have written permission from their superintendent and principal to apply. All STAR seminars

will be held at the St. Christopher Conference Center on Seabrook Island, near Charleston. Our fall session will be

October 23-27, 2017. The deadline for that has passed, but we are still accepting applications for the spring session,

March 19-13, 2018. The application deadline is December 31, 2016. If you would like to apply, download the application

here http://www.palmettoteachers.org/star or email Toni Chewning at tchewning@bellsouth.net.

NATIONAL BOARD RENEWAL WORKSHOP Palmetto State Teachers Association will be hosting a National Board Renewal

Workshop. The workshop is for teachers who are thinking about or currently

renewing their National Board Certification. It will be held at Northwestern High

School (2503 West Main Street, Rock Hill) on Saturday, October 14, 2017, from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. The cost is

$25.00 for members and $50 for non-members. PSTA Past-President, Dr. Jeff Venables, will lead the workshop.

Register online: http://www.palmettoteachers.org/

REMIND PD UpdatesTEXT FOR TIPS: Text “@PSTAteach” to 81010Texts are sent weekly (usually on Thursday afternoons) and are applicable to a variety of grade levels and content areas. Subjects include technology, classroom management tips, time saving ideas, and freebies for teachers.

People are welcome to submit ideas, too. They can email tchewning@bellsouth.net.

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We are here for you, so you can be there for your students!

ONLINE PD PORTAL:PSTA is proud to offer our members access to a wide variety of online PD through our partnership with The World Continuing Education Alliance.  The WCEA provides global continuing education (CE) platforms for connecting educators and independent education associations across the United States. This platform ensures PSTA members of having an accessible resource of continuing education choices available anytime. The options that PSTA has chosen for our members are all available free of charge!

There is something for all grade levels and subjects. Members can choose to view the PD all at one time or break it down into smaller sessions. Times vary from thirty minutes to several hours for completion. PSTA members may view PD workshops and sessions then print certificates to turn in to their district certification office. 

To access the PD Portal, visit our website at www.palmettoteachers.org and choose “Professional Development Opportunities” under the Events drop down menu.

Your account is now active and you are ready to access a whole new world of online Professional Development sessions!

Once you are at the PSTA Education Portal Homepage, click on “Create your account” to choose your login and password information.

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SAVE THE DATEPalmetto State Teachers Association will be hosting Gerry Brooks in Columbia on April 7, 2018.

PSTA members will get first access to tickets. Watch your email for more details.

Dec. 2nd @ Winthrop University

Mar. 24th @ Columbia College

Apr. 28th @ College of Charleston North Campus

www.facebook.com/edcamppalmetto Twitter: @edcamppalmetto #edcampPAL

Congrats to CRAIG KINGOn Thursday, August 24th, PSTA Director Of Governmental Affairs, Craig King

was honored by AFLAC with the “Duckprint Award.” The Duckprint Awards

recognize those who are making a meaningful impact in the lives of children with

cancer. Craig, a childhood cancer survivor himsef, has spent years helping to

raise awareness and funds to help fight against childhood cancer and has been

a camp counselor at Camp Kemo for 17 years. Learn more about the camp here:

www.campkemo.org.

PSTA was honored to join the celebration during the award ceremony!

We are so proud of Craig and all his great work!

8 Palmetto State Teachers Associationfacebook.com/PalmettoTeachers@PSTANews info@palmettoteachers.org

Dear PSTA Family,

I hope all of you found some rest and relaxation over summer and the first few weeks of school are off to a great start. I am confident that you all have

had a fantastic, but busy, August as you readied your

classroom, made your long range plans, and attended

countless meetings. Even with all of the “busy”ness

that surrounds this time of year, it is still a very exciting

time. I love that our profession gets a fresh start each

year. There is something so magical about the empty

notebooks waiting to be filled with learning. I see so

much hope as I look at the blank pages.

I often use this time to reflect and set goals just as I do

with New Year’s Resolutions each January. As I thought

about last school year, and looked ahead towards a

new one, I sought wisdom from some of my greatest

educator friends through a Facebook group I am a

member of called “Teachers Leading Coffee House”.

I asked them, “What advice do you give yourself at

the start of a new school year to ensure a successful

180 days?” Their responses were incredibly insightful

and helped to affirm things I am already doing as an

educator, but also challenged me to dig deeper in my

work for the sake of the profession and my students.

1. Discover what makes each student special.

2. The students they were last year no longer

matters; It only matters who they are this year,

and what I can help them become.

3. Encourage students to take risks in learning.

Model for them by trying something new this year.

4. Every day is a new day. I wake up with a clean

slate each morning, so I need to pass that grace

and mercy onto my students.

5. I can’t expect my students to make straight A’s if I

don’t bring my A game every day.

6. Don’t race to cover content at the expense of

getting to know students as people.

7. Fun is the name of the game.

There were many responses, but these seven hit home,

especially number five. I am making it my personal

goal to bring my “A game” as much as possible this

year. No doubt, it will be a challenge, but aren’t my

students worth it? Moving forward through ’17-’18, I

must remember the days of rest and relaxation from

the summer as I work through the year ahead. When

the days get long and difficult, I must think back to this

wisdom and forge ahead. When I feel like things aren’t

going great, I will give myself the grace and mercy that

I need to face the next day. Most of all, I must have fun

and be thankful for the fresh beginning I have to start

over each year in this profession that I love. Here’s to

another year! Make it the best one yet!

Matt JohnsonPresident, PSTA

A LET T ER F ROM T H E Pre s i d e n t