Amy Carter, South Carolina Teacher of the Year, inspired teacher cadets from Allendale, Barnwell, and Wade Hampton high schools during Teacher Cadet College Day at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie. 

The event allowed students and teachers to engage with peers from different schools, tour Salkehatchie’s Allendale campus and meet Kelley Browder, Teacher Cadet Program Facilitator for Region 5, and Billie Smith, Teacher Cadet Coordinator. USC Salkehatchie alumni Isaac Robinson (2019), Ayona Anderson (2019), and Nia Marie Jackson (2020) led panel discussions on how USC Salkehatchie can help future teachers prepare for academic success.

“USC Salkehatchie shares the teacher cadet program's goals of attracting talented young people to the teaching profession,” said Dr. Patricia Fears, Coordinator of Teacher Education for USC Aiken @ Salkehatchie. “Providing insight into the nature of teaching, the problems of schooling, and the critical issues affecting education helps to recruit and retain high-quality teachers for our schools. We appreciate all the participants for the work they do to make this program a success.”

USC Salkehatchie partners with the USC Aiken School of Education to provide degrees in elementary and early childhood education at the USC Salkehatchie campus. Students in the program complete their freshman and sophomore years as USC Salkehatchie students, allowing them to save thousands of dollars in tuition and fees. The junior and senior years are completed as USC Aiken students on the USC Salkehatchie campus. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible for certification to teach elementary or early childhood education.