Limestone Professor Appointed To State Boards And Committees:

Dr. Shelly Meyers, Director of Teacher Education at Limestone College, has recently been appointed to multiple South Carolina boards and committees.

Meyers has been elected to chair the South Carolina Education Deans/Directors Alliance and to the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) board representing private institutions of higher education. CERRA offers an array of services and programs that influence the recruitment, retention, and advancement of teachers from middle school through their professional careers. Their services are designed to help public schools locate high quality educators to lead classrooms.

Meyers will be serving on the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) board representing teacher preparation. SCASA represents school leaders in the General Assembly, State Board of Education, and other entities whose decisions affect public education in South Carolina. Their mission is to strive to have great leaders in every school and district in South Carolina who ensure the success of every student.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has asked Meyers to lead the statewide discussion on the teacher preparation standards for Elementary Education and serve on the committee that is writing the state's Digital Learning Plan, which will decide the adoption of print and digital instructional materials within the state’s public schools. The SCDE provides a multitude of guidelines intended to provide advice and guidance that would aid in making decisions within a place of education

Meyers will also be attending committee meetings for the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) and board meetings for SC Future Minds, a non-profit organization that works to develop a public education system that equips each and every student with the tools, knowledge, and attitude for success in work or post-secondary education. The CHE serves as the coordinating board for South Carolina’s 33 public institutions of higher learning. The Commission is responsible for assuring a balance between student and taxpayer interests and institutional policies, aspirations, and needs.

“The teacher shortage crisis in our state and our nation are a very real concern,” Meyers said. “It is my honor to serve on each of these committees and boards representing Limestone and South Carolina educator preparation programs in order to address this issue and others facing the education profession. Limestone has a long history of preparing teachers for our state and beyond.

“While the national averages indicate that 50 percent or more of teachers leave after five years, our data indicates that 85-95percent of our graduates are still in schools after 15 years,” she continued. “I am proud to represent Limestone's award-winning faculty, alumni, and teacher candidates at these very important tables.”

Meyers earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Missouri Valley College, her M.Ed. in Elementary Education, K-6 Literacy from Walden University, and her Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from Gardner-Webb University. In 2017, she received the Exemplary Service to the Teaching Profession Award from the South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators (SCATE). She is a St. Louis, MO native and now resides in Gaffney.