ABOUT:
Education in South Carolina is not a one topic issue. Much like our students must learn multiple subjects, we must have meaningful discussions about multiple issues. As a leader in education, I am willing to tackle the tough subjects that few people want to talk about. That's why I'm introducing “The 10 in 10 Series." Over each of the next 10 weeks, I'll highlight an issue imperative to education in the Palmetto State and share my vision with you. I welcome your thoughts, questions, and comments on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or my website.
Education in South Carolina is not a one topic issue. Much like our students must learn multiple subjects, we must have meaningful discussions about multiple issues. As a leader in education, I am willing to tackle the tough subjects that few people want to talk about. That's why I'm introducing “The 10 in 10 Series." Over each of the next 10 weeks, I'll highlight an issue imperative to education in the Palmetto State and share my vision with you. I welcome your thoughts, questions, and comments on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or my website.
Week 1 - Soft Skills for Hard Work
When children graduate high school in South Carolina, they should be ready for work or college, and citizenship. The diploma they hold in their hands should signify that a young adult is ready for life after high school. Sadly, this is too often not the case.
Read on and watch video...
Week 2 – Dollars and Sense
As a child I was taught that the way you treat the gift reflects what you think of the giver. When I consider how hard taxpayers work to earn the money that they contribute to the State’s education system, I am compelled to believe that those in education need to be careful stewards over the investment taxpayers are making in our schools. We need to focus on spending taxpayer dollars in common sense ways on the things that have a positive impact on student achievement.
Read on and watch video…
Week 3 – Unzipping the Zip Code Barrier
The quality of a child’s education should not be predetermined by a child’s zip code. Zip codes cannot predict a child’s educational needs, motivations, or aspirations nor should they be the determining factor in the quality of instruction. While convenient, assigning children to schools by zip code or placing limitations on parental choice runs counter to the way we do almost everything else in America.
Read on and watch video...
Week 4 – Safe to Learn
There are some basic human needs that remain constant. The need for food, clothing, and shelter will never change, but one often overlooked necessity for a successful learning environment is safety. A classroom that is safe is a classroom ready to learn. Our schools must be safe before students will be successful. Safety emerges when teachers, and school and community leaders support each other in creating positive expectations for student conduct.
Read on and watch video...
Week 5 – Quality Teachers = Quality Students
I believe each child deserves high-quality instruction in every classroom, every day, every year. If we want students who are prepared for work or college and citizenship then we need effective teachers leading the way. As your next State Superintendent of Education, I will fight to attract and retain the best teachers for our students.
Read on…
Week 6 – Matriculation Without Merit Does Not Help Our Students
My first year teaching was an amazing experience. I eagerly laid out my long-range plans for the year. As a Social Studies teacher, I mapped out how we would learn ancient history through each civilization, covering history, geography, economics, and political science, as the State adopted standards required.
Read on...
Week 7 – Ready for the New Economy
We live in a great State that has a bright future. However, fortune favors the prepared. As our State’s prospects are turning favorable, it is critical that the K12 system of education prepares our children to benefit from the new opportunities that are emerging and the advantages that are on the horizon. That is why it is critically important that every student who receives a diploma in South Carolina is truly prepared for work or college, and citizenship.
Read on...
Week 8 - Standing up to Federal Overreach
Washington does not know best. Decades of attempts at centralized educational controls demonstrate that success in our classrooms will not be achieved when they are micromanaged by bureaucrats inside the beltway. Educational decisions are best made by the states, but particularly by parents, teachers, and local leadership.
Read on...
Week 9 - Ready for Citizenship
During this campaign I have pledged that if elected Superintendent of Education I will fight to ensure that every child who receives a diploma in South Carolina is ready for work or college, and citizenship. It is true that if one meets the criteria of the natural-born-citizen clause of the Constitution, they are indeed a citizen. But what about Citizenship? What about the behavior and qualities in terms of the duties, obligations, and functions of a citizen that a responsible member of a community should hold?
Read on...
When children graduate high school in South Carolina, they should be ready for work or college, and citizenship. The diploma they hold in their hands should signify that a young adult is ready for life after high school. Sadly, this is too often not the case.
Read on and watch video...
Week 2 – Dollars and Sense
As a child I was taught that the way you treat the gift reflects what you think of the giver. When I consider how hard taxpayers work to earn the money that they contribute to the State’s education system, I am compelled to believe that those in education need to be careful stewards over the investment taxpayers are making in our schools. We need to focus on spending taxpayer dollars in common sense ways on the things that have a positive impact on student achievement.
Read on and watch video…
Week 3 – Unzipping the Zip Code Barrier
The quality of a child’s education should not be predetermined by a child’s zip code. Zip codes cannot predict a child’s educational needs, motivations, or aspirations nor should they be the determining factor in the quality of instruction. While convenient, assigning children to schools by zip code or placing limitations on parental choice runs counter to the way we do almost everything else in America.
Read on and watch video...
Week 4 – Safe to Learn
There are some basic human needs that remain constant. The need for food, clothing, and shelter will never change, but one often overlooked necessity for a successful learning environment is safety. A classroom that is safe is a classroom ready to learn. Our schools must be safe before students will be successful. Safety emerges when teachers, and school and community leaders support each other in creating positive expectations for student conduct.
Read on and watch video...
Week 5 – Quality Teachers = Quality Students
I believe each child deserves high-quality instruction in every classroom, every day, every year. If we want students who are prepared for work or college and citizenship then we need effective teachers leading the way. As your next State Superintendent of Education, I will fight to attract and retain the best teachers for our students.
Read on…
Week 6 – Matriculation Without Merit Does Not Help Our Students
My first year teaching was an amazing experience. I eagerly laid out my long-range plans for the year. As a Social Studies teacher, I mapped out how we would learn ancient history through each civilization, covering history, geography, economics, and political science, as the State adopted standards required.
Read on...
Week 7 – Ready for the New Economy
We live in a great State that has a bright future. However, fortune favors the prepared. As our State’s prospects are turning favorable, it is critical that the K12 system of education prepares our children to benefit from the new opportunities that are emerging and the advantages that are on the horizon. That is why it is critically important that every student who receives a diploma in South Carolina is truly prepared for work or college, and citizenship.
Read on...
Week 8 - Standing up to Federal Overreach
Washington does not know best. Decades of attempts at centralized educational controls demonstrate that success in our classrooms will not be achieved when they are micromanaged by bureaucrats inside the beltway. Educational decisions are best made by the states, but particularly by parents, teachers, and local leadership.
Read on...
Week 9 - Ready for Citizenship
During this campaign I have pledged that if elected Superintendent of Education I will fight to ensure that every child who receives a diploma in South Carolina is ready for work or college, and citizenship. It is true that if one meets the criteria of the natural-born-citizen clause of the Constitution, they are indeed a citizen. But what about Citizenship? What about the behavior and qualities in terms of the duties, obligations, and functions of a citizen that a responsible member of a community should hold?
Read on...
