Leadership and LATTE (Loving A Teacher Today and Everyday)

Leadership and LATTE (Loving A Teacher Today and Everyday) Hero Image

Team members: Katie Ayers, Beth Costner, Liz Duda, Brian Fast, Jacqueline Inabinette, Ernest Jenkins, Jamie Lovegrove, Helena Tillar, Ferlondo Tullock

 

Project: Leadership & LATTE (Loving A Teacher Today and Everyday)

On average, more than 7,000 educators in South Carolina leave their teaching positions each year, according to The South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement.  This trend creates significant challenges on the frontlines of our public school system.

South Carolina school districts reported 1,613 vacant positions at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, compared to 1,474 the previous year – a 9% increase. Notably, of the teachers who departed, 37% had five or fewer years of experience before leaving. Additionally, surveys found that a substantial proportion of the teachers who left cited mental or emotional health, lack of support, or a lack of professional development among the reasons for their departure.

Teachers are hugely influential in the lives of children, but many of them leave or transfer early in their careers due to the school climate. This revolving door has led to a nationwide shortage of teachers, which is especially acute in South Carolina. The first five years in the classroom are critical to encourage teachers to pursue longer careers. While most teachers engage in some form of professional development, they often don’t have access to personal development opportunities to enrich themselves and their well-being.

Leadership & LATTE (Loving A Teacher Today and Everyday) provides personal development and wellness programming to early-career public school teachers, helping them to feel more valued while gaining practical life skills. In a series of sessions led by community leaders in three rural counties – Calhoun, Marlboro, and Clarendon – participating teachers hear inspirational messages, learn about financial literacy, healthy eating and yoga, and expand their professional networks.

Project Mission: Help early-career teachers to feel valued and learn skills through personal development and wellness programming.

 

Project Objectives:

  • Develop activities for teachers that target their well-being​
  • Organize financial literacy and health and wellness events in three South Carolina Districts​
  • Provide target resources for early career educators​

Additional Benefits:

  • Show teachers that they are valued​
  • Offer practical new life skills that can be continued at home and/or at work
  • Provide networking opportunities to connect with local colleagues across the school district