Choice, The PSTA Newsletter
We are here for you so you can be there for your students.
Fall 2019 edition
Email: info@palmettoteachers.org
Website: palmettoteachers.org
Location: 220 State Street, West Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: 803-256-2065
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmettoTeachers/
Twitter: @PSTAnews
A Letter From Kathy
Happy American Education Week! It's a pivotal time for educators both in South Carolina and across the nation. While we are in the midst of a teacher shortage crisis, we are also facing the possibility of education reform that hasn't been seen since the early 1980s and teachers are using their voice to be part of that change! Our year at PSTA has started off with our staff not only visiting districts but also attending numerous meetings at the State House. The Senate Education Committee has met to review Senate Bill 419(Education Reform Bill) and will meet again on December 4. The Education Oversight Committee has held several meetings in the past few months which our staff has attended, as well. Be sure your email address is up to date in our database so that you'll receive our Legislative Alerts and our State House Reports! Follow us on social media for timely updates, too.
Please know that PSTA is working hard to be a presence at the State Board of Education, the State Legislature and at district events. We know you chose this profession because you believe in educating the next generation and PSTA works hard to support you in this endeavor! So many good things are going on in your classrooms, your schools and your districts. We'd like to share the positive and combat some of the negative media coverage, so please reach out and share your good news! Send a brief summary and, if possible, a picture of your award, recognition or special event to info@palmettoteachers.org so we can share highlights in our newsletter!
Thank you for being a member of PSTA and remember, we are here for you so you can be there for your students!
Kathy Maness
Executive Director
Congratulations to our Student Loan Promotion Drawing Winner!
Congratulations to Richland School District Two teacher Christine Baker on winning our Student Loan Promotion contest that was held between May 1 and August 31 of this year. Mrs. Baker was randomly selected to have her student loans paid for one year(up to $3000).
Mrs. Baker is a first year Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Jackson Creek Elementary School. PSTA Executive Director Kathy Maness presented her with a check for $3000.00 on Monday, November 4, 2020 at a school wide faculty meeting.
PSTA EdCamp News
PSTA is excited to partner with Greenville County School District to host EdCamp Greenville! EdCamp Greenville will be held on Saturday, February 22 at Greer Middle School. Be sure to look for our staff at the event and tell the preservice teachers to stop by our Teacher Clothes Closet to shop for professional wear. Click here to register.
Save the date! PSTA will be hosting EdCamp Palmetto on March 28th in Charleston. This EdCamp will be held in conjunction with the PSTA Convention. More information will be available in January.
What's Happening at PSTA
By: Toni Chewning, Director of Association Activities
Are you a PSTA member(three years or more) who is working on an advanced degree?
PSTA offers the Dr. Elizabeth Gressette Professional Development Scholarship for members who are studying at an accredited college or university. You can learn more about our scholarship at https://psta.memberclicks.net/dr-elizabeth-gressette-scholarship .
The application process includes an interview and a writing sample. The deadline to apply is December 15, 2019. Letters of reference are due January 15, 2020. Winners will be recognized at our EdCamp Conference on March 28, 2020, in Charleston.
We recently held our 2019 Fall STAR Seminar in beautiful St Christoper Conference Center on Seabrook Island. Outstanding public school teachers from across South Carolina were recognized and rewarded with a weeklong retreat! We participated in a book study, a beachwalk led by the camp naturalist and a historical tour of Charleston. It was a week to network, reflect and share. Would you like to participate in a STAR Seminar? More information can be found at https://psta.memberclicks.net/star.
PSTA hosted a Teacher Clothes Closet last week at the Upstate Teacher Career Fair and we have our next event scheduled for December 4 at the PSTA office(220 State Street, West Columbia) from 9:00 AM- 7:00 PM. If you are working with a student intern this semester or know students currently enrolled in the education program at local colleges or universities, please encourage them to come and shop for free professional wear!
For more information about the STAR Program, the PSTA Scholarship or The Teacher Clothes Closet, please contact Director of Association Activities Toni Chewning at tchewning@palmettoteachers.org or visit www.palmettoteachers.org .
PSTA Welcomes a New Staff Member
We are excited to welcome Molly Sharpe to the PSTA staff as our Director of Marketing! She replaces our former Director of PD and Communications Jed Dearybury. Molly began working with PSTA in May as a college intern and joined us as a full-time staff member this fall. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and lives in Lexington.
Member Incentive Program Continues
Palmetto State Teachers Association is excited to once again offer an incentive program for our current members who recruit a new member. For every new member you sign up, you will receive a $10 gift card (up to $499 each year). Please feel free to print a membership application here and sign up as many new members as you can!! If you have any questions please contact our Director of Membership Patrick Cauthen at 803-256-2065 or email us at info@palmettoteachers.org .
Benefits and Discounts for Members
AMBA Benefits
National Board Candidate Workshop
A FREE National Board Support Conference for Initial Candidates will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019. The conference will begin with on-site registration at 9:30, will conclude by 3:00, and will be held at Carolina Springs Middle School (6180 Platt Springs Rd, Lexington, SC 29073).
The one-day conference will include a brief general session as well as breakout sessions focused on each of the four components. We also will offer a candidate workroom staffed by NBCTs and an ATLAS (library of National Board videos) viewing room. Advanced registration is required. Candidates should visit https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/w15rbd1t1l5ou44/ to register for the conference. Registration will close on November 29th.
Additionally, the conference will include a Professional Learning Facilitator (PLFs) Training session for NBCTs who wish to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to ethically support National Board candidates. The training will begin with on-site registration at 9:30, will conclude around 1:00, and will be held at Carolina Springs Middle School. NBCTs who participate in the training will be asked to help staff the candidate workroom after the training. This will give the new PLFs an opportunity to practice their skills. Advanced registration is required. Candidates should visit https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/w1i7aq7l09z70s7/ to register for the conference. Registration will close on November 29th.
Friendly Reminders From PSTA
A Letter From the President
Greetings and Happy American Education Week!
November 18-22, 2020, we celebrate American Education Week. This week is very important as we take the time to celebrate public education and give the highest honor to those who are making a difference in lives of children everywhere. During American Education Week, each day is designed to give the community the opportunity to support education in a positive way by giving them a glimpse of the day to day workings of a school.
As educators, it is imperative that we stay involved with the decisions that are being made for the students that we teach on a daily basis. We must be willing to take a stand and advocate for the individuals who cannot advocate for themselves. One way to advocate for our students and schools is by acknowledging that there are some changes that need to be made to ensure that the highest quality of education is given on a daily basis and what better way to do this than to invite the outside world on the inside. By doing so we as educators allow ourselves the opportunity to share our needs and concerns for the children that enter our schools and classrooms on a daily basis.
As we go forth in the upcoming months, let us remember that it is important that every child receives the highest quality of education that they can possibly receive. Together we can make a difference!!!
Nikkina McKnight
Palmetto State Teachers Association, President
Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.