All Blog Posts

Building Better Readers: Jennifer’s Story

My name is Jennifer Baskin, and my most recent teaching role was serving as a reading interventionist at Westcliffe Elementary in Greenville, SC. I have been teaching for fifteen years with many of those years...

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Emme Buzhardt, MSIL ’26 Hooding Ceremony Speech

New Master of Science in Innovation and Leadership graduate Emme Buzhardt was selected by her classmates to speak on their behalf at the Graduate Studies Hooding Ceremony on August 14, 2026. To follow is Emme's...

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Beyond the Art Room: Matt’s Growth Through Literacy

As a veteran elementary art educator, I would never have expected to be on the cusp of earning my master’s degree in literacy from Furman University. Art education impacts a variety of content areas such...

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Growing as an Educator and Literacy Leader: Amanda’s Experience

I originally began the Master of Education with a concentration in Literacy program at Furman University in 2021 after taking a break from teaching in order to stay home with my daughter. Before becoming a...

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“A child who reads becomes an adult who thinks.”

This well-known proverb took root during my undergraduate years at Furman and was later strengthened through my experience earning a master’s degree with a concentration in literacy. I believe that literacy is the foundation of...

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Kate Harrington, MAP ’26 Hooding Ceremony Speech

New Master in Advocacy and Social Policy graduate Kate Harrington was selected by her classmates to speak on their behalf at the Graduate Studies Hooding Ceremony on May 8, 2026. To follow is Kate’s speech....

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Junie Mertus, MS-CEM ’26 Hooding Ceremony Speech

New Master of Science in Community Engaged Medicine graduate Junie Mertus was selected by her classmates to speak on their behalf at the Graduate Studies Hooding Ceremony on May 8, 2026. To follow is Junie’s...

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From the Classroom to the World: Kate’s Adventure

I am currently a third-grade teacher at Blythe Academy of Languages in Greenville, South Carolina. This is my third year teaching. I have a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Literacy...

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Making Connections through Fridays in the Field

Ask any Master of Science in Innovation and Leadership student about “Fridays in the Field,” and they’ll light up, sharing stories from recent visits to Michelin Innovation Lab, Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery and Soteria At...

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Becoming a Literacy Leader: Marie’s Story

Early in my teaching career, I was certain I would spend my entire professional life in my own classroom. Even after nineteen years, what I cherish most are the relationships I build with students, especially...

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