Bell: We must support SC teachers or risk losing them

Cindi Scoppe’s Jan. 19 column on the impact of great teachers and the House Education Policy Review and Reform Task Force report are potent reminders that we need committed individuals to take on the important work of teaching in our state. Teach For America began 25 years ago fueled by beliefs that all children deserve an excellent education — no matter their race, economic background or neighborhood — and that effective teachers are critical to making that a reality. Those truths are the reason I lead our efforts to recruit and support talented, diverse leaders in high-need schools across the state.

In our fifth year in South Carolina, we have 160 corps members in schools, and 90 percent of our 225 alumni are still in the classroom, school leadership or a role addressing the underlying factors that contribute to disparities in opportunity and outcome. As important as great teachers are, they can’t erase educational inequity on their own, so we also support addressing the systemic problems.

Regardless of socioeconomic background, children welcome challenges and learning about the world around them. When teachers set high expectations, students strive to meet them. Students in corps members’ classrooms have jumped into coursework to propel two to three grade levels ahead. Our alumni lead clubs where students who have little to no experience with computer science learn code. High school students attend Saturday information sessions to prepare for college and leadership summits to determine how they can become leaders in their communities.

Our state is decades behind leveraging innovative approaches to attract talent in education. We’re losing a talent battle we don’t realize we’re fighting with schools across the country. With declining applications for teacher preparation programs and increasing numbers of teacher shortages across the country, we must do more to make teaching an attractive and sustainable career.

Better pay for years of experience, increased professional-development opportunities and support from outside the classroom to meet social and physical needs for students in low-income communities are a few efforts that can help draw more talented and passionate individuals to the field. Let’s support the current and next generation of leaders our children depend on.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 12:38 PM.