Congratulations to the following students named to the 2025 cohort of SC Teaching Fellows!
Sarah | Hicks | Coastal Carolina University |
Ava Grace | Long | Clemson University |
The South Carolina General Assembly began funding the Teaching Fellows program in 1999 as a way to recruit talented high school seniors into the teaching profession. The selection process for Teaching Fellows is rigorous, with an emphasis on the dispositions necessary for teaching such as academic accomplishment and demonstration of leadership skills. This year the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) scored over 900 Teaching Fellows applications, invited 500 students from across the state to interview for this prestigious award, and will name up to 230 students as members of the 2025 cohort of Teaching Fellows.
Teaching Fellows participate in enrichment and leadership programs at Teaching Fellows Institutions, have additional professional development opportunities, and are involved with communities and businesses throughout the state. They receive up to $24,000 in yearly scholarships (up to $6000 a year for four years) while they complete a degree leading to teacher certification. The scholarship provides up to $5700 for tuition and board and $300 for specific enrichment programs administered by CERRA. A Fellow agrees to teach in South Carolina one year for every year he or she receives the Fellowship.
The Teaching Fellows Program clearly provides an avenue for South Carolina to change the face of pre-service education. The program identifies the best and brightest who want to teach and supports them as they develop the knowledge and skills to become high quality educators in South Carolina’s classrooms.
Sarah Hicks:
Ava Grace Long:
