Volume 42, Winter 2023 SC-SIC Council News

FiveSchoolImprovementCouncilsnamed FiveSchoolImprovementCouncilsnamed finalistsfor2023stateRileyAwardforSIC finalistsfor2023stateRileyAwardforSIC Excellence Excellence

FiveSouthCarolinaSchoolImprovementCouncils(SICs)havebeen namedstatewide2023awardfinalistsfortheiraccomplishmentsinparent andcivicengagementwithintheirschoolcommunities.

TheSCSchoolImprovementCouncil’sannualDickandTunkyRileyAward forSchoolImprovementCouncilExcellencewascreatedin2002to recognizethesignificantcontributionsmadetopubliceducationbythe morethan11,000localSICmemberswhovolunteerinthestate’s1,100-plus K-12publicschools

Inalphabeticalorder,thisyear’sRileyAwardfinalistsare:

-BelvedereElementarySchoolSIC(AikenCountyPublicSchools)

-GreerHighSIC(GreenvilleCountySchools)

-HiltonHeadIslandHighSIC(BeaufortCountySchoolDistrict)

-JennieMooreElementarySIC(CharlestonCountySchoolDistrict)

-WilderElementarySIC(SumterSchoolDistrict)

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FourjoinSC-SICBoardofTrustees FourjoinSC-SICBoardofTrustees

ElizabethHortonBost,MaggieH.Dangerfield,RachelHui-Hubbard,andDr. TashaLouis-NancehavejoinedtheBoardofTrusteesfortheSouth CarolinaSchoolImprovementCouncilasoffall2022.

ElizabethHortonBostisamotheroffourandaseasonededucator servingtheOconeeCountySchooldistrict.Sheisanartteacherat KeoweeElementarywheresheisaformerpresidentandcurrentmember oftheschool'sSIC

AccordingtoMs.Bost,“AsamemberofKeoweeElementary’sSIC,Iworked topromotestudentsafetyandincreaseawarenessoftheboosterseat lawsoftheStateofSouthCarolina”Inadditiontothis,Ms Bosthasalso beenrecognizedasTeacheroftheYearatKeoweeElementarythree times

SheearnedherB.A.inInterdisciplinaryStudiesfromtheUniversityofSouth CarolinainadditiontoanM.Ed.inDivergentLearningfromColumbia College Ms BostisalsocurrentlyworkingtowardasecondMEd in EducationalLeadershipatAndersonUniversity.

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Ifthebillowsofyellowdustintheairareanyindicator, springisnearlyhere Thusbeginsformanyofusthe headlongdashtotheendoftheschoolyear.

Forourstate’s1,110-plusSchoolImprovementCouncil, it’sthetimetobeginwrappingthingsupforthe currentschoolyearandlookingtowardputtingthings inplaceforthenewone

DoesyourSIChaveanytrainingneedsbeforetheend ofthe2022-23?Whilethebulkof“SICBasics”training isconductedearlierintheschoolyear,it’snevertoo lateforSchoolImprovementCouncilmemberstobe exposedtothisinformation,orourtrainingon“SIC Leadership”ReachouttoyourlocalSICDistrict Contactortoouroffice,1-800-868-2232,toseeabout schedulinganin-personorvirtualsession.

InthisissueofCouncilNews,you’llfindanarticleonpreparingand disseminatingyourSICReporttotheParentsforthecurrentschoolyear.The statutorydeadlineforthispublicationisApril30eachyear,andwerequest allSICstopostanelectronicversionoftheirReportstotheonlineSC-SIC MemberNetworkbyJune1.Thisarticle,andresourcesavailableat https://sic.sc.gov,includingourSICReporttotheParentsToolkit,canhelp yourCouncilproduceanattractiveandinformativeReportforyourschool community.Andremember,yourReportcouldbeselectedforSC-SIC’s annualAwardofMeritforSICReporttotheParentsExcellence!

NowisalsoagoodtimeforSICstolookaheadtonextfallandplanfortheir electionofmembersandofficers.WhilestatelawrequiresSICmember electionstobeconductedeachyearbyOctober15,thisdoesn’tmeanthat theprocessneedstowaituntilfall Identifyingpotentialelectedparent, teacher,andstudentmemberscanbeginanytimethroughouttheyear,so thatyourSIChasasolidballotinplacewhenyouholdyourelections (A growingnumberofSICshavetheirmemberelectionsinthespringsothat theycanhitthegroundrunningwhentheschooldoorsopeninAugust.)To helpwithnominations,balloting,andotherelectoralitems,seeourSIC ElectionsToolkitonlineorgiveusacallonourtoll-freenumber

Andwhileyou’revisitingourwebsite,pleasetaketimetoexploreit.There’sa hostofresourcesthereforlocalSICswithalotofinformationthatcanhelp answerjustaboutanyquestionyoumighthaveabouttheroles, responsibilities,activities,andimpactofSchoolImprovementCouncils.Have otherquestionsorneedadditionalinformation?Justletusknow–we’llbe happytohelp!

Ican’tletthisopportunitypasstoacknowledgesomeonewhohashelped theSCSchoolImprovementCouncilandsomanylocalSICmembersfor some20years.ClaudiaParnell,ourlong-timeDigitalandWebDirector,has embarkeduponretirement.Wewishherwellintheyearstocomeand sincerelythankherforheryearsofserviceanddedicationtoSC-SICandthe state’s11,000-pluslocalSICmembers.

Andthankyou,SICmembers,forallyourworkandcommitmenttocivic engagementatworkforpubliceducation.Youreffortstrulyhavemeaning andmakeagreatdailyimpactonyourschoolcommunities!

SC-SIC BoardofTrustees

StewartCooner Chair WestColumbia

ClaraH.Heinsohn ViceChair

Charleston

RobertGrant ImmediatePastChair Orangeburg

Dr.CarolHill Secretary Florence

JessicaAdamson RockHill

ElizabethHortonBost Oconee

MaggieDangerfield Charleston

RachelHui-Hubbard RockHill

Dr.TrevorT.Ivey Sumter

KingLaurence Aiken

Dr.TashaLouis-Nance Orangeburg

SC-SIC Staff

TomF.Hudson ExecutiveDirector

KarenUtter AssociateDirector

MeredithHooper Communications Coordinator

FromtheExecutiveDirector FromtheExecutiveDirector

11SouthCarolinaProfessionalandCivicLeaders 11SouthCarolinaProfessionalandCivicLeaders Named

toPrestigiousEducationPolicyProgram NamedtoPrestigiousEducationPolicyProgram

Eleven(11)professionalandcivicleadersfromacross SouthCarolinahavebeenselectedtoparticipatein theSCEducationPolicyFellowshipProgram(SCEPFP)for2022-23.

SC-EPFP,nowinits20thyearinThePalmettoState,is a10-monthintensiveprofessionaldevelopment programforestablishedandemergingleadersfrom alldisciplinestohelpequiptheminworkingtoward soundeducationpolicyandpracticeinSouth Carolina.SC-EPFPFellowsparticipateinavarietyof activitiestopromoteleadership,develop professionalnetworks,demystifyeducationpolicy, andfostergreaterunderstandingoftherolesof governmentandthecommunityineducation.

“Onceagain,ourSC-EPFPcohortrepresentssomeof themostskilledandcommittedleadersfromacross ourstate,”saidScottT Price,ExecutiveDirectorfor theSCSchoolBoardsAssociationandSC-EPFP AdvisoryBoardChair.“Thisyeartheywillworkand learntogethertodevelopnewperspectives,sharpen theirprofessionalskills,pursueinnovativedialogues, andnetworkwithleadersfromotherareassothey cantakedefinitivestepstowardlastingand meaningfuleducationimprovementatthestateand locallevels.”

SouthCarolinaFellowsmeetmonthlythroughoutthe academicyearforfull-daydialogues,exercises,and groupprojects,inadditiontoathree-day WashingtonPolicySeminarinthenation’scapitalin March.

SC-EPFPoperatesundertheauspicesofthenational EducationPolicyFellowshipProgramoftheInstitute forEducationalLeadership(IEL)inWashington,DC, whichoverseesFellowshipprogramsin10statesand theDistrictofColumbia InSouthCarolina,the programiscoordinatedbyTomF.Hudson,Executive DirectoroftheSCSchoolImprovementCouncil(SCSIC)

SinceitsinceptioninSouthCarolina20yearsago, SC-EPFPhasproducednearly260program graduatesfromavarietyofprofessional backgrounds.

SC-EPFPissupportedbyanadvisoryboardproviding cross-disciplinaryleadershiprepresentingthestate’s K-12education,highereducation,andbusiness communities

ForadditionalinformationontheSCEducationPolicy FellowshipProgram,visittheSC-EPFPpageonlineat https://sic.sc.gov/sic-information/sc-educationpolicy-fellowship-program-sc-epfp

MembersoftheSC-EPFPcohortfor2022-23are:

-MarciaW.Bacon,CEO,RichlandFirstSteps

-AdrianD.Busch,Principal,WoodlandHigh School,DorchesterSchoolDistrict4

-CristinCasper,CommunityServices Coordinator,BeaufortCountySchoolDistrict

-KarlaSwanChapman,ElementaryAssistant Principal,EastPointAcademyPublicCharter School

-RasheedaN Cleveland,StaffAttorney,SouthCarolinaSchoolBoardsAssociation

-SarahJ Eargle,ExecutiveDirector,Newberry CountyFirstSteps

-DeionM Jamison,2023SouthCarolinaTeacher oftheYear

-KyndraJ.Johnson,DistrictSocialWork Coordinator,ClarendonCountySchoolDistrict

-Dr.ShawnL.Johnson,Superintendent, ClarendonCountySchoolDistrict

-RaninaOuting;RegionalFamilyEngagement Liaison;CarolinaFamilyEngagementCenter

-Marvin“Mark”Smith,SouthCarolinaHouseof Representatives;District99,BerkeleyCounty

TheSC-EPFP22-23cohortvisitstheSCSchool fortheDeafandBlindduringitsfall leadershipretreat.

“These School Improvement Councils have performed tremendous work for their school communities,” said SC-SIC Board of Trustees Chair Stewart Cooner. “We congratulate them for significantly supporting the impact that parents, educators, and community members can make together for their schools and students.”

The winner of the 2023 Riley Award will be selected from this year’s finalists by an independent panel of reviewers and announced during an awards luncheon later this spring.

The SC-SIC Riley Award for SIC Excellence is named in honor of former SC Governor and U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley and his late wife, Tunky, and recognizes the couple’s longstanding commitment to quality public education.

Part of the Center for Educational Partnerships within the University of South Carolina College of Education, the SC School Improvement Council (SC-SIC) was established in state law 45 years ago to provide the member training, technical assistance, statutory accountability, and other operational resources necessary for the continued success of the community-based SICs in each of the state’s K-12 public schools. Additional information on SC-SIC’s programmatic efforts can be found online at https://sic.sc.gov.

Springisapproaching,whichmeansitistimeforSchoolImprovementCouncilstothinkaboutpreparingand issuingtheirannualSICReporttotheParentsfor2022-23.

SouthCarolinastatute(Act135of1993)requireseachlocalSICtoprepareanddistributeanSICReporttothe ParentsbyApril30thofeachyear.ThepurposeofthisReportisfortheSICtosharewiththeirparentsand othershighlightsoftheSIC’sworkduringthecurrentschoolyear(toincludegoals,actions,andresults)and toupdatetheschoolcommunitytheprogresstheschoolandSICaremakinginachievingthetargetsset forthintheschool’sFive-YearPlan.

EachSICReporttotheParentsisintendedtobeuniquetoeachschoolandisdevelopedbytheSICwith

inputoftheschool’sprincipal.ThroughtheReport,theSICandotherschoolleaderssharethechallenges, successesandvisionfortheschoolanditsstudents.WhatmakestheseReportsimportantisthattheyarea formofpeer-to-peerinformationsharing,differingfromandcomplimentingothertypesofannualreports whichmaybedevelopedbytheschoolorthedistrict.

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the

FormerU.S.EducationSecretaryandSCGovernorDickRiley(center) standswithSC-SICExecutiveDirectorTomF.Hudson(left)andSC-SIC BoardofTrusteesViceChairClaraHeinsohn(right)atarecenteventin ColumbiaofTheRileyInstituteatFurman.

FourJoinSC-SICBoardofTrustees FourJoinSC-SICBoardofTrustees

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MaggieDangerfieldistheDirectorofStrategicPlanning forCharlestonCountySchoolDistrictandaproud Charlestonnative

Ms.Dangerfieldhasanobviouspassionforthe environmentandjoinedCharlestonCountySchool Districtfirstastheirsustainabilitycoordinatorand helpedtogrowthedistrict’swastemanagement programinadditiontoimplementinginitiativesrelated tocompostingandenvironmentalprotocol

SheholdsaB.S.fromClemsonUniversityin EnvironmentalEconomicsaswellasamaster'sin environmentalstudies,amaster'sinpublic administration,andaCertificateinUrbanandRegional PlanningfromtheCollegeofCharleston

WhensheisnotdevisingnewwaystokeepCharleston Countyschoolsenvironmentallysound,sheenjoys spendingtimewithherhusband,twochildrenandtheir dog.

RachelHui-HubbardistheProgramsCoordinatorfor theEarlyLearningPartnership(ELP)ofYorkCounty. Throughthisrole,sheisresponsibleforthe administration,maintenance,andimplementationof theReachOutandReadprogram,theWeeRead program,andmanyotherearlychildhoodlearning initiativesthroughoutYorkCountyandacrossthe region

Ms Hui-Hubbardleftherpreviouspositionatatech companyastheirDirectorofSoftwareQuality AssuranceandProjectManagementtoaccepther currentrole,notingthat“shefirmlybelievesinELP’s mission-thatreadingtoandengagingwithachild, startingatbirth,buildsastrongfoundationforachild’s successinschoolandlaterinlife.”

ShegrewupinMontreal,Canada,eventuallymovingto theU.S.toobtainherdegreeinComputerSciencefrom RowanUniversityandcertificatesinNonprofit ManagementandDiversity,Equity,andInclusionfrom WinthropUniversity.

Ms Hui-Hubbardisthemotheroftwoyoungadult daughters,andenjoysbeingactive,socializingwith friends,andtraveling.

Dr TashaLouis-NanceisaCoordinatorinthe Student/SpecialServicesdepartmentforOrangeburg CountySchoolDistrictandistheSICDistrictcontactfor theOrangeburgCountySchoolDistrict

SheservesastheViceChairfortheTri-County Commissionboardandhasbeenappointedtothe boardsince2010byformerGovernorsNikkiHaleyand MarkSanford,andbycurrentGovernorHenryMcMaster. ShewaspreviouslytheDeanofTransitionalStudiesand DistanceLearningatDenmarkTechnicalCollegeanda ResearchAssociatefortheUniversityofSouthCarolina.

Withmanyacademicachievements,Dr.Louis-Nance earnedherB.S.inK-12MentalDisabilities,anM.Ed.inK12LearningDisabilities,anEdS inEducation AdministrationandanEdD inEducationAdministration fromSouthCarolinaStateUniversity.

Inadditiontothis,sheobtainedherMRCin RehabilitationCounselingwithhonorsfromtheGolden KeyInternationalHonorsSocietyfromtheUniversityof SouthCarolinaSchoolofMedicineaswellasa RehabilitationPsychiatricCertificatealsofromthe SchoolofMedicine.

"Weareprivilegedtowelcomesuchesteemed colleaguestoourBoardofTrustees,"saidSC-SICBoard ChairStewartCooner "Welookforwardtoseeinghow theyhelptransformthefutureofSICsacrossthestate ofSouthCarolina."

RachelHui-Hubbard Dr.TashaLouis-Nance

MaggieDangerfield

ElizabethHortonBost

SC-SICIntroducesNewCommunicationsCoordinator SC-SICIntroducesNewCommunicationsCoordinator

Meredith Hooper is SC-SIC's new Communications Coordinator Born and raised in Brevard, NC, Meredith is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications with a minor in Retail

Prior to this role, she gained experience in communications and marketing through internships with Carolina Wildlife Center located in Columbia, as wellasherworkwithCitySocialCommunications

In addition to this, she was able to gain skills in social media management across multiple social channels, document events, and do branding photographyforlocalrestaurants.

AtSC-SIC,MeredithwillbemanagingtheSC-SICMemberNetwork, designingprintandelectronicmaterialsuchasCouncilNews,andupdating socialmediaamongotherresponsibilities.

Inherfreetime,Meredithisafreelancephotographerandenjoysreading, playingwithhertwocatsandtraveling.

"WearefortunatetohaveMeredith,hertalents,andherideasonourteam," saidSC-SICExecutiveDirectorTomF.Hudson."Wewelcomeherenergy, skills,andabilities"

SICSpotlightSubmissionsWelcome

DoyouhavegoodnewsorupdatesaboutyourSchoolImprovementCouncilthatyou wouldliketoseefeaturedinCouncilNews?Wewouldlovetohearaboutitandconsiderit forournewcolumn,"SICSpotlight"

Sendanemailwiththesubjectas"SICSpotlight"andashortblurbandaphoto(if applicable)forthechancetobefeaturedinupcomingSpotlightstoMeredithHooperat hooperml@mailbox.sc.edu!

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Ideally,theSICReporttotheParentsshouldbeproducedinbothprintedandelectronicformatsas familiesoftenhavevaryingavailabilitytoaccessonlineresources.SICsareencouragedtohaveprinted copiesavailableintheschool’sfrontofficeandtocirculatethemthroughouttheircommunitiesinpublic places Theyarealsourgedtopostanelectronicversionontheschool’swebsiteandareaskedtosubmit anelectronicversiontotheSC-SICMemberNetworkbyJune1steachyear.

SC-SIChasdevelopedresourcestoassistlocalCouncilsinpreparingtheirReports VisittheSC-SIC website,http://sic.sc.gov.Clickonthe“PublicationsandDownloads”tab,thenclickon“SICReporttothe Parents.”Youwillalsofindhereinstructionsonhowtocreateanduploadanelectronicversionofyour finishedReporttotheSC-SICmemberNetwork

Havequestionsorneedsomeadditionalhelp?Justcallusat1-800-868-2232orsendusanemailat sic@mailboxscedu

MeredithHooper