Limestone University Students Take Part In Legislative Hill Day Event

Limestone University’s newly formed Palmetto State Teachers Association Student Chapter recently attended a Legislative Hill Day event at the South Carolina State House.

The event in Columbia was hosted by the Palmetto State Teachers Association (PSTA), the state’s largest professional education association for teachers.

The future educators from Limestone met with their local delegation members and attended Legislative Committee meetings. Legislative staff led the group on a tour of both the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. PSTA Director of Governmental Affairs Patrick Kelly shared a Legislative Update focusing on legislation directly affecting school districts across South Carolina.

The Limestone students were recognized by Sen. Ronnie Cromer in the Senate and Rep. Dennis Moss in the House of Representatives.

Kensley Scates, the inaugural president of the Limestone PSTA chapter, was one of the students to participate in the event.

“The opportunity to talk to legislators about the Governor’s budget proposal and the effects that it will have on educators, as well as the new ‘Read to Succeed’ legislation that will impact both practicing and pre-service teachers, was so important,” Scates said. “It was a good opportunity to see how we can work with legislators to advocate for educational policy and share insights that they may not be aware of as they work to craft bills that will impact our profession.”

In addition to Scates, other Limestone students taking part included Hannah Tiede, Caden Hoffler, and Sidney Scott.

The Palmetto State Teacher Association Student Chapters are composed of students majoring in education and all members are studying to become public school teachers in South Carolina. The PSTA student chapters are very active on their campuses and represent the future education leaders of the state.

Dr. Virginia Scates, who serves as the faculty advisor for the chapter, is very proud of the leadership team and the roles they take both on-campus and elsewhere. 

“These future educators are growing in their professional habits, advocacy, and the skills that will make them exemplary teachers when they enter the field,” she said. “Our education faculty look forward to seeing the impact they continue to make at Limestone and as they enter the profession and take their place in their own classrooms.”

More information about the University’s Teacher Education Program can be found HERE.