As I begin my tenure as Superintendent of South Carolina, I am excited about the journey ahead and honored by the trust placed in me by the people of this state. We have an opportunity to renew our common commitment to our students and their futures so that all children within have the opportunity to receive an excellent education.
We face tremendous educational challenges, with nearly two-thirds of children falling short of grade level in basic reading, writing and math skills. We face teacher shortages as fewer young people pursue professional careers, current teachers battle bureaucracy, rising costs of living and declining discipline in the classroom. We are facing a collapse of trust and a system too designed for the needs of the last century.
But South Carolinians have proven time and time again that our moments of greatest challenge are our moments of glorious opportunity. I believe it is time for all South Carolinians to respond to the call to unite around students. Our future is in the classroom today and there is no time to wait.
During my first year as State Superintendent, I will do my best to listen and continue to learn from parents, teachers, students and stakeholders.
First and foremost, I remain committed to transparency and accountability in education. In short, we work every day to give parents fast and meaningful access to information about their child’s school and what they’re learning. This also means fighting to ensure that every dollar is spent wisely, respecting taxpayers and maximizing efficiency so that every teacher and student can get the most out of their investment in education. increase.
Second, education would not be possible without the efforts of South Carolina’s dedicated educators. Decades of research show that good teachers and good principals are the most important factors within schools for academic success. Teachers, principals and many others devote countless hours to their students. We must ensure that states are properly prepared, rewarded, and honored for their irreplaceable work.
I am a passionate advocate for raising educator salaries, reducing bureaucracy, and providing high-quality, meaningful professional development to prepare teachers to help students grow and learn like never before. increase. We are also committed to supporting great principals by giving them the tools they need to create a school culture in which great teachers can thrive. My goal is to make South Carolina the best place to teach in the country.
Third, parents and families are entitled to educational freedom. Education should be customized to serve students. We know that a one-size-fits-all system doesn’t work for students or teachers. Across the nation, states that have expanded educational freedom have seen better student achievement and a boom in public education. South Carolina can and should do the same. We need to fund students to ensure that their needs are met regardless of where and how they best learn. We need to change the bureaucratic one-size-fits-all mindset and enable public schools to innovate. I have always advocated for greater flexibility and choice for parents and educators, unlocking the proven principle that competition makes everyone better.
Finally, we know that early literacy is the greatest academic predictor of life success. My administration will focus on ensuring that all children with this condition are provided with the phonics stools that research on the science of reading clearly demands. A call to action for volunteers is also included to support teachers in guiding and tutoring students in important core subjects such as reading and math.
These key items aren’t an exhaustive list of what we want to accomplish in the next four years, but they’re a starting point. My team and I are dedicated to student-focused policies and do our best every day to equip every child in Palmetto State with the life-changing power of a good education.
Ellen Weaver Superintendent of Education in South Carolina.
