Society Hill native is named 2018 Teaching Fellows cohort at CCU
CONWAY – Kadi Gainey, an elementary education premajor major from Society Hill, has been named a Teaching Fellow at Coastal Carolina University for 2018-2019.
The South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program gives scholarships to eligible South Carolina high school students who are pursuing a degree in education and a career in South Carolina’s public schools following graduation.
Administered by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA), the program provides a scholarship for up to 200 high school seniors who have shown high academic achievement. CCU is one of 11 institutions in S.C. that is recognized as a Teaching Fellows Institution.
Amanda Darden is the director of CCU’s Teaching Fellows program.
Teaching Fellows are chosen through a rigorous process, which includes an online application, an interview with and presentation to a team of educators and a scored response. Applicants who are selected for the fellowship receive up to $24,000 in scholarships, up to $6,000 a year for four years.
In addition, the Teaching Fellows take advantage of several professional development opportunities, participate in numerous service projects and partnerships with local schools and businesses that will prepare the students to be hired as well-rounded educators.
The goal of the Teaching Fellows Program is to improve literacy among area students and includes in-service learning projects, teacher education courses, field experiences and an internship that focuses on experiencing and understanding school environments.
Fellows attend professional development meetings once a month, which allow for the Teaching Fellows to hear from current teachers from around the nation.
Students in the Teaching Fellows are encouraged to run for leadership positions within the program, such as president, cohort representatives and committee chair.
They are also provided with opportunities to build their leadership skills by participating in on-campus organizations including the LIFE Program, the Biddle Center and the S-SCEA.
Each new Teaching Fellow will be assigned a peer mentor who is a second-year Teaching Fellow.
The mentors will serve as a guide for the new Fellows as they navigate their way through their first year of college, and the years to follow.
