A Note from Carol

Each week between now and Election Day on November 8th, I will focus on one topic via email

and Facebook. This will help to clarify my positions, as well as the opportunities to

make Charleston County schools reach their potential. This week our focus is on teachers.

I'd appreciate your support. Please VOLUNTEER or DONATE today.

Classrooms should be led by teachers who know best practices for teaching and learning and

are well-prepared for the challenges students bring to the classroom. It’s important for teachers to be adequately paid, have reasonable class sizes, and be respected as professionals. Struggling students in reading and math need the expertise of interventionists. Students with

disabilities need expert teachers and educational opportunities. Teachers’ professional decisions about curriculum, teaching methods, and teaching materials must be valued.

These are the most important things we can do to recruit, retain and support teachers.

1. Respect teachers as professionals who nurture and care for our students.

2. Increase teacher pay and issue contracts that retain teachers.

3. Reduce class sizes, testing, and paperwork so teachers can teach, and students can

learn.

4. Hire mental health professionals, school nurses, and other staff to help with the

health and safety of children.

5. Allow teachers to teach the state standards without fear of politically motivated

punishment or censorship.

We have some wonderful and dedicated teachers. Many of them go above and beyond their

classroom to provide after school activities in the arts and athletics, outdoor classrooms, serve

on PTSA and school improvement councils, and support STEM and robotics teams.

The CCSD, parents, and community can all support our teachers. A given outcome will be

happy, creative, and academically engaged students.

If you have additional ideas, please go to our Facebook page and

use the Comment section to share your thoughts.

www.caroltempel.com