Rockstars for Education
Team members: Marie Boyd, Nick Davidson, Robin Free, Dylan Gunnels, Melanie Matney, Quincie Moore, Jesse Smith, Tony Tam, Cliff Wilson
The South Carolina Teacher and Recruitment and Retention Task Force released a report in May 2023 citing that at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, South Carolina school districts started the year with 1,474 vacant teaching positions, a 39% increase over the previous year. The research of this task force has revealed that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for teacher recruitment and retention. For schools to be successful in providing an excellent education for each student, there must be coordination and collaboration at every level. Schools must develop a team of highly effective teachers supported by highly effective administrators and school service professionals.
All South Carolina school districts are required to provide an induction class for their first-year teachers. Richland Two School District has over 200 first-year teachers, many of whom are international teachers. The focus of this year’s class in Richland Two centered around discipline, but as the year progressed, the focus shifted to one of self-care and encouragement. With South Carolina’s statistics in mind, this Midlands DLI team partnered with Richland Two administrators and induction mentors to honor these first-year teachers.
Rockstars for Education honored induction teachers in the Richland Two School District at an afternoon event on May 19, 2025, located at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation. The team members used their expertise, diverse backgrounds, and experiences to provide inspiring stories, goodie bags, life tips, and recipes for these teachers. The teachers’ mentors were also invited, and the entire group laughed, cried, and enjoyed each other at this end-of-year celebration event.
Because teachers often feel overworked, under-supported, underpaid, and not respected in the community, this team wanted to ensure that these first-year teachers felt appreciated and celebrated for the positive, life-changing difference they make every day in the lives of their students. This event succeeded in elevating the teaching profession, an essential role for the future economic success of our state.