Inaugural Fellows in Education Class Completes 9-Month Program
A ceremony took place this week for the inaugural class of the Fellows in Education program. The local leaders who made up the effort received commemorative certificates and were recognized for their efforts in completing the 9-month, intensive program focused on a better understanding of issues facing area schools.
The Fellows program was designed to give local leaders a unique, behind-the-scenes look into several schools within Florence School District One. Over the course of nine months, leaders saw firsthand some of the daily struggles and constraints educators face in the classroom. Leaders heard about seismic shifts in student needs and the additional state and federal requirements now placed on schools, teachers and administrators in Florence District One.
The program is a joint effort between Florence District One, the Florence Chamber and the School Foundation. This year’s class included:
Jill Bramblett, Dr. Fred Carter, Dr. Ben Dillard III, Nicole Echols, Asa Godbold, Rev. Merritt Graves, Joy Knight Higgs, Rev. Anthony Hodge, Joe King, Jean Leatherman, John Kleine, Diana Murphy, Dolly Om, Rev. Calvin Robinson, Jeff Stevens, Kim Turner, Richard Walker, Kyle Baxter, Octavia Williams-Blake, Laura Wukela, Debbie Hyler, Mindy Taylor and Michael Miller.
Chamber President Michael Miller said of the inaugural class, “This was a very special group of people committed to learning more about our education system here in Florence School District One. Each of us found many new and impressive ways that our teachers and education leaders are working to bring our students to a higher level of learning. It was an exceptional experience.”
The Fellows program took place over the course of nine months. Each month’s program centered on a different educational experience that was unique to the classroom. The Fellows in Education program offered opportunities for community leaders to contribute to the development of better education policies in the communities in which they live and work.
For more information on the Fellows in Education program, please contact:
Debbie Hyler, Executive Director, The School Foundation (843) 662-9996 or dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org
Michael Miller, President, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce (843) 665-0515 or mmiller@flochamber.com
