State-Wide Teacher Educators Conference Coming To Limestone On October 18

Limestone College will welcome the 2019 Fall Conference of the South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators later this month.

Known as SCATE, the South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators is the premier educational organization for individual members in South Carolina. The Association is committed to the improvement of teacher education through publications, conferences, and providing networking opportunities for its members.

Limestone Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education Dr. Teresa White is a member of the SCATE Board of Directors. Following the 2018 conference at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, White advocated for the conference to be held at Limestone this year on Friday, October 18.

In addition to nearly three dozen presentations by higher education professionals, the conference will also include officials from the Educational Testing Service, Cherokee County School District, and the S.C. Department of Education. Well over 100 participants are expected to attend.

Several presentations accepted for the SCATE conference will be led by Limestone College professors, including Dr. Felicia Cavallini, Dawn Ranns, Dr. Amber Williams, and Dr. Angela Williams.

The theme of the conference is “Advocating for Teacher Education: Impacting Research in South Carolina Policy and Practice.”

The conference will also support the “Books On The Bus” initiative for Luther Vaughn Elementary School in Cherokee County. The program provides children with interest-level books during their bus rides, offers a variety of learning experiences, and builds relationships with students.

“We’re excited about having some of the very best thought-leaders in education right here at Limestone College for this conference,” White said. “We have a beautiful campus and a wonderful community that will embrace this event.”

A total of 35 presentations will be held inside Winnie Davis Hall of History from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and a luncheon is scheduled on the front campus.

The conference’s keynote speaker is Dr. Rashad Anderson, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Campus Director of the Call Me MISTER program at South Carolina State University. Central to his work is engaging students, scholars, practitioners, and community members to find and implement effective means to better propel black male youth through K-12 and higher education settings. As a former public school music educator for several years, Anderson also brings to his research a deep experiential understanding and passion for the arts. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from S.C. State and his Master’s in Music Education from the University of South Carolina. Anderson received his Ph.D. in Educational Foundations and Inquiry at the University of South Carolina.

As a frequent lecturer, he has presented at over 50 state and national education conferences including an invitation as the keynote speaker from the United States Department of Education in 2019 in Washington, D.C.

Members of Limestone’s Call Me MISTER program will be assisting as student ambassadors for the SCATE Conference. The mission of the Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) initiative is to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader more diverse background. The Call me MISTER program contributes to the talent pool of teachers.

SCATE 2019 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

7:45 -8:20 AM 

Breakfast & Registration 

Greetings from Dr. Judy Beck (ATE) and Dr. Julie Jones (SCATE) 

The Main Lawn of Limestone College 

8:30 -9:20 AM 

Session 1  

Winnie Davis Building 

(Refer to session schedule details) 

9:30-10:20 AM 

Session 2 

Winnie Davis Building 

(Refer to session schedule details) 

10:30-11:20 AM 

Session 3 

Winnie Davis Building 

(Refer to session schedule details) 

11:30 AM-12:20 PM 

Session 4 

Winnie Davis Building 

(Refer to session schedule details) 

12:30-1:40 PM

Awards Luncheon Keynote Session

Dr. Rashad Anderson and MISTERs of SC State University: Khi Baker, Jalen Dugar, Tony Edge, Jamal Ferrell, Jamieon Gilmore, Kesean Harris, Jevon Holt, Brian Livingston, Chrisean Mack, Brandon McKinnedy, Gabriel Mission, Samuel Murray, Jordan Puch, and Traseam Tolen

SCATE Exemplary Service to the Profession Award: Bessie Clarke

SCATE Cooperating Teacher of the Year Award: Connor Bost, Pickens High School

SCATE Education Student of the Year Award: Susan Martin, Pickens Middle School

SCATE School-Support Program: Luther Vaughan Elementary School "Books on the Bus," Principal: Mrs. Loretta Homes, Cherokee County School District

The Main Lawn of Limestone College 

1:45-2:25 PM 

Special Panel Session of Hot Topic in Education 

Donna Crocker: Coordinator of Teacher Evaluation Cherokee County School District 

Tammy Perry: Coordinator of Teacher Certification Cherokee County School District 

Emily Tallon: Special Services, Elementary Program Specialist Spartanburg School District 7 

Dr. Marc Zachary: Chief Human Resources Officer in Spartanburg School District 7 

The Main Lawn of Limestone College 

2:25 -2:30 PM

Door Prizes and Closing Remarks – Ms. Laura Kaufmann and Dr. Julie Jones  

The Main Lawn of Limestone College