P.O. Box 100547 Florence, SC 29502         (843) 661-1828


The mission of the  Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty is to increase the achievement of children of poverty by improving the quality of undergraduate teacher preparation, graduate teacher preparation, and the professional development of in-service teachers.
  
January 2018 E-Newsletter
Volume 13        Number 5
Quick Links
Upcoming Events
Essay Contest
Entry deadline
March 16th

SUMMER INSTITUTE
PROPOSALS
DUE

2018 COERC
April 12, 2018
9 AM - NOON
Archives Building
Columbia, SC
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Spring 2018
Essay Contest

Call for Proposals
Summer Institute 2018
Call for Presentations 
Summer Institute 2017 Set for June 19 - 20, 2018

The Center of Excellence Summer Institute is a two-day event designed to provide participants with practical, research-based information that focuses on the needs and abilities of under-resourced learners. 

Keynote addresses and specialized breakout sessions will focus on classroom strategies and best practices for under-resourced students around this year's theme: Challenges and Opportunities: Teaching Children of Poverty.

It is time to submit proposals for breakout sessions.

Educators learn best from other educators and your successful practices could be featured in breakout sessions!  Do you have a classroom activity that has resulted in excellent outcomes?  Are you using innovative ways to motivate your learners?   Have you employed a brain-based strategy that energizes your classroom?
Now is the time to share with others!
Proposals are now being accepted and the process is simple. 
Questions? Call or email the Center. 

Proposals must be received before February 28.
 
Congratulations!
Outstanding  
Student Teacher
Spring 2017  
Joshua Stalheim

Each semester the Center solicits nominations for an award that honors the Francis Marion senior majoring in Education who best demonstrates a strong commitment to under-resourced learners during the student teaching semester.  This semester's winner, Joshua Stalheim, is an English Education major who student taught in 9th grade at South Florence High School.   His Cooperating Teacher, Ms. Erxleben, stated that Josh "participated in conferences in order to better understand the student, his/her family, and to better clarify any misunderstandings.  Mr. Stalheim also went above and beyond by attending after school activities to support students and interact with parents in order to build better relationships." FMU Student Teacher supervisor, Dr. Ted Whisnant, expressed that Josh was a gifted teacher and truly connected with his students on a personal level.  Josh also contributed his success with making connections.  "After seeking to validate my students' basic humanity, I strove to connect with them on a personal level, something I accomplished with students of poverty through my own similar experiences."  

Congratulations, Josh!

Congratulations!
 Add On Certification 
for TEACHERS OF CHILDREN OF POVERTY
The Center regularly partners with schools, districts, and organizations to facilitate professional study events focused on serving the needs of children of poverty, and ALL learners.  This month's featured project is...

 Educators Complete South Carolina's 
Add On Certification for Teachers of Children of Poverty 
 
The Center began in 2009 to consider the concept of specialized formal professional study for teachers in high poverty schools.  Partially a response to the Abbeville vs. SC lawsuit and the controversy related to equitable funding in high poverty schools, a task force of educators was convened that worked for three years to craft the proposal that was unanimously approved in 2012 by the State Board of Education and the Legislature in 2012.  South Carolina's Add-On Certification for Teachers of Children of Poverty is the only one of its kind in the United States, and the Center regularly entertains questions about the project from leaders across the nation.  
 
South Carolina's certification includes two levels of study, including the Endorsement, which requires two graduate courses, and the Add On Certification, comprised of four graduate courses. Each views the needs of under-resourced learners through the lens of neuroscience and field assignments in all courses are mandated by law. 
 
The introductory course has been offered many times, but Lexington (SC) School District One boldly decided in 2014 to contract with the Center for delivery of all four courses for a cohort of teachers and school leaders in that district who were interested in this in-depth study.  Members of the group completed the final course in December 2017 and became the first educators eligible for this state licensure.  
 
Congratulations to Lexington One's TCOP Cohort

   ADD ON CERTIFICATION
          ENDORSEMENT
Mylisa D. Apperson
Casey L. Hart
Doris L. Hawkins
Shelly A. Martin
Beverly M. Potts
Stephanie J. Robinson
Ruth Ann Treaster
Jennifer S. Szalwinski
Sarah M. Childers
Deidre D. Foote
Tracey L. Jackson
Cheryl L. Neuberger
Ann F. Pilat
Katina F. Roeder
Stephanie G. Taylor
Mary E. Whisennant
 

Are you interested in pursuing the Endorsement or Add On Certification?   
A new cohort will begin in Fall 2018.   
 
Contact the Center to learn how to join the Fall 2018 cohort.
 
   
Thank you for your important work!
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Do you have an event or success story that aligns with Center strategies? 
Please share with us so that others may learn from you! 
A Peek  at the Practice  
Cultivate Family and Community Partnerships
Implement a results-driven partnership plan

Research indicates that learners are most successful when their families and communities are supportive of and involved in the work of the schools.  To that end, the Center of Excellence began its successful partnership with the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University in the Fall of 2005. Initiated to provide Partner Districts with highest quality, research-based supports for the development of strong and productive connections between schools, families, and communities, this collaboration was introduced at Francis Marion by Joyce Epstein, Johns Hopkins principle researcher and an original member of the Center's initial task force and planning team. 

Since its beginning, the project has provided intensive training in the National Network's goal-driven action plan model and associated practices that meet requirements defined by ESEA Title 1 legislation.  Partner Districts that choose to participate have continuous access to family and community engagement support services offered by both Johns Hopkins and the Center of Excellence.  
Resources
Looking for resources? 
                We may have what you need!

Did you know the Ce nter has a collection of more than 400 books available for check out? 
Visit our new electronic catalog of resources:  
 
                          https://cloud.collectorz.com/coepoverty/books   
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Check out these recent additions to our Resource Library: 
                   
     

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FMU Center of Excellence | (843) 661-1828 | coe@fmarion.edu | http://www.fmucenterofexcellence.org
  520 Francis Marion Road Florence, SC 29506