2022 SCALE Fellows

Meet the Fellows

Kerry L. Abel

Richland County School District One, Board Member S.C. Afterschool Alliance, Richland County, and Statewide

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? The value of afterschool and summer learning is that students are provided with the opportunity to be in a safe and productive environment where they can learn how to make wise choices and receive life-long lessons.

Stachia Bennett

Kids on Point, Charleston County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? Afterschool and summer learning opportunities give students the space to perfect, prove and expand what they have been learning year-round. Afterschool and summer programs are places where students demonstrate not only their academic knowledge and skills but socioemotional and interpersonal skills as well. These programs are places where the whole child can be empowered, which makes their existence and quality vital.

Shelby Broomfield

Dreams Imagination & Gift Development Program, SC Coalition for Mathematics and Science, Barnwell County, Allendale County, and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA)

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? There is so much value in afterschool and summer learning. I feel the value of afterschool and summer learning comes from the special group of people that work in the out-of-school learning environment. Individuals that work in the out-of-school learning environment have to embody patience, compassion, and love for student learning. The value of out-of-school learning comes from the extra time spent in enrichment, extra attention, extra love, and extra compassion that our out-of-school-time employees share with their students.

Kristina Brooks

Berkeley County School District, Berkley County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? The value of afterschool and summer learning is seeing students and future leaders flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.

Etta Greene Carter

Finklea High and Loris Training Schools Alumni Association, Horry County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? The value of afterschool and summer learning programs surrounds wrap-around support and additional opportunities to grasp academic concepts and promote a healthy sense of self and community.

Kimberly Fields

Whale Branch Early College High School, Beaufort County School District

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? I feel the value of afterschool and summer learning includes improved social and emotional competencies, improved students’ academic performance, and increased community support.

Starr Jordan

Engaging Creative Minds, ECM’s Summer STEAM Institute serves Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Allendale, and Barnwell counties.

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? The value of summer and afterschool programs far exceeds the mitigation of summer learning loss or providing safe child care. High quality afterschool and summer programs are instrumental in engaging students in lifelong learning. These out-of-school time experiences not only allow students to explore their interests and passions in greater detail but have the potential to unlock other worlds of opportunities.

Katherine King

Greenville County School District, Sevier Middle School, Greenville County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? Afterschool, before-school, and summer programs provide support for learning and social and emotional growth, particularly for students who are members of our most vulnerable communities. Data gathered from research on long-term outcomes demonstrates that consistent participation in afterschool and summer learning programs nationally (and in our local schools) has shown growth in academic achievement and college and career preparedness.

Omoro King

Darlington County School District, Darlington County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? Afterschool and summer learning give students opportunities outside of regular classroom instruction to either enrich or catch up on their learning. Both of these programs also allow for more small group instruction, which is a research-based practice that allows for catchup growth.

Gerri McConnell

Laurens School District 55, Waterloo Elementary, Laurens

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? The value of afterschool and summer learning has to support and extend learning for students and families.

Debra McCord

Williston School District, Barnwell 29

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? I feel the value of afterschool and summer learning is to help students bridge learning gaps, provide exposure to resources not readily available in the community, and provide a continuous and safe space for our students to learn and grow.

Kim Mogan

GirlUp GVL, Greenville County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? I feel the value of after school is providing a safe, supportive environment that allows students to explore more of the world around them. Afterschool and summer provide the opportunity to present additional learning opportunities that support academics while pairing life and social skills and character development.

Eddie Peeples

Colleton County School District, Colleton

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? There are many benefits to having an afterschool or summer learning program. One, it provides working families care for their children while they are at work. This alone can reduce stress for our working families. Another benefit is that it provides food and nutrition to our students. This can reduce stress for families who struggle with providing meals for their children. Third, is that it can support academically what is going on in the classrooms. Regular school and afterschool can work together to ensure that enrichment opportunities are taking place. Lastly, it can help to increase student attendance in regular school.

Shaquite L. Pegues

Children’s Defense Fund, Marlboro County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? Any opportunity for a child to learn and grow is of great value. Afterschool and summer programs are valuable because they extend the learning process, provide enrichment and exposure opportunities, and harness community stakeholders in the support of student achievement.

Jeff Robinson

SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? Afterschool and summer learning fills an often overlooked educational space between school and home that contributes to the safety, wellbeing, and growth of our students. These programs also provide opportunities for flexibility and exploratory experiences that are crucial to a student’s personal growth beyond the traditional classroom.

Harold Sanders

Charleston County School District Office of Expanded Learning, Charleston County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? I feel there is a great value in afterschool and summer learning. If programs are implemented with fidelity and passion, then the students will benefit academically, socially, and emotionally.

Ally Schachner

YMCA of Easley, Pickens, and Powdersville, Anderson School District 1, and Pickens County School District

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? Afterschool and summer programs are a chance for each student to step out of the classroom and explore who they are as an individual. These types of programs promote interaction among kids from different backgrounds and with different life experiences. It is a chance to broaden perception and learn life skills all while having fun in a nontraditional setting!

Rasheeda Tumbling-White

Boys & Girls Clubs of York County, York, and Chester Counties

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? Afterschool and summer learning is so important to our youth. Many are not performing on grade level, so to offer an experience that is fun and engaging while learning is next level.

Nicholas Washington

Original Six Foundation, Allendale, Bamberg, Clarendon, Hampton, Marion, Union

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? I feel that the value of afterschool programming is exposure. This additional time allows for more exposure to new opportunities that lead to growth and expansion for each child.

Toiya Witherspoon

Kingdom Learning Center, Lancaster County

What do you feel is the value of afterschool and summer learning? I feel it is very important the work afterschool provides is invaluable. I have experienced it with so many of our students. Their grades have improved and their confidence has increased tremendously. Some of our students simply need someone to show them that we care and are concerned for them, as this alone leads to student improvement. Without afterschool and summer learning options, many students may end up making the wrong decisions.