Chanda Jefferson is an education leader whose career connects classroom teaching, public policy, and community engagement. As Director of Community Engagement and Outreach at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, Jefferson leads a portfolio of K–12-to-college STEM pathways serving more than 3,000 students annually. The work expands access to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, data science, and artificial intelligence through programs developed with schools and community partners.

At Penn Engineering, Jefferson directs more than 10 pre-college and educator programs, oversees central staff and a large team of student and educator staff, and stewards more than $1 million in competitive and philanthropic funding. Partnerships with federal agencies, industry, and foundations support programming that links STEM learning with responsible innovation, workforce development, and economic mobility.

Before joining Penn, Jefferson served as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and policy advisor in the offices of U.S. Representatives Marcia Fudge, Mark DeSaulnier, and David Trone. Responsibilities included education and science policy, legislative research, constituent engagement, national student recognition programs, and community project funding. This federal service followed statewide leadership as the 2020 South Carolina Teacher of the Year and an Education Leader in Residence with the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement.

Jefferson’s foundation in education includes biology teaching, district science support, early college program development, and service as a science department chair in South Carolina. Recognition includes the 2021 NEA California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence, Penn’s National Society of Black Engineers Dedicated Mentorship Award in 2024, and its Equity Advocates Honor in 2023. Jefferson is also a founding board member of the National Association of Black STEM Teachers and has delivered more than 100 speaking engagements, panels, and presentations.

Jefferson holds a Master of Education in Organizational Leadership and Administration from Columbia University, a Master of Teaching in Secondary Sciences from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science from the University of South Carolina. Research experiences, professional fellowships, and published scholarship further inform Jefferson’s work to help students navigate STEM pathways.

Zachariah D. Lowe, Ph.D., is an Education Resource Senior Specialist in C-SPAN’s Department of Education Relations in Washington, D.C. An educator, researcher, and former South Carolina classroom teacher, Lowe focuses on authentic learning opportunities, civic education, and the professional support educators need to help students participate in a diverse democratic society.

Lowe joined C-SPAN as an Education Resource Specialist in 2021 and advanced to the senior specialist role in 2025. Professional contributions include national conference presentations on civic issues and historical perspectives, participation in conversations about C-SPAN’s educational resources and student documentary competition, and co-hosting the C-SPAN in the Classroom podcast from 2021 to 2023. This work builds on Lowe’s experience connecting social studies content with student engagement and real-world learning.

Before moving to C-SPAN, Lowe taught middle school social studies in Sumter School District from 2014 to 2020 and served as a curriculum coach at R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy in 2020–2021. Contributions included curriculum writing, teacher coaching, and grant-supported initiatives for STEM learning, school libraries, environmental projects, and staff wellness. Lowe also helped lead South Carolina social studies standards revision work and developed African American history instructional materials.

Lowe earned a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change with academic distinction from Tiffin University in 2024. The dissertation examined leadership orientation, leader-member exchange, job satisfaction, and intentions to leave among new public school teachers. Lowe also holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Arts in Education, earned summa cum laude, from the University of Akron. Lowe is a National Board Certified Teacher in adolescent and young adult social studies and holds teaching and school leadership credentials.

Honors include Sumter School District Teacher of the Year, a top-five finalist designation for South Carolina State Teacher of the Year, and the University of Akron Alumni Association’s 2024 Top 5 Under 35 recognition. Lowe’s service includes appointments to the City of Bowie’s Board of Elections and Education Committee and leadership in the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. Published scholarship and professional presentations also address inclusive social studies instruction and support for LGBTQ+ students, connecting Lowe’s research interests with classroom practice and community engagement.

Jing Zhang is a language immersion educator and doctoral student whose work brings together early childhood teaching, multilingual literacy, and culturally relevant instruction. Zhang teaches kindergarten in the language immersion program at Carver-Lyon Elementary School in Richland School District One, Columbia, South Carolina. After teaching first grade in the program from 2017 to 2024, Zhang moved to kindergarten in 2024 and continues to support young learners’ language and literacy development.

Zhang’s classroom and school contributions extend across curriculum development, teacher mentorship, and student enrichment. These include science curriculum writing for the district, service on curriculum and textbook adoption committees, and work as a language immersion technology ambassador. Zhang has led Chinese Mandarin summer camp programming, taught summer reading classes, mentored an induction teacher, and supported school music and dance clubs.

An active contributor to professional learning and scholarship, Zhang participates in the National Council of Teachers of English Professional Dyads. Conference presentations with colleagues address multilingual children’s literature, bilingual STEM literacies, reading in mathematics, and the use of songs and multimodal texts in literacy instruction. Zhang has also served as a science fair judge, including head judge for the elementary division of the South Carolina State Science Fair in 2026, and has mentored several first-place school science fair students.

Zhang was named the 2026 South Carolina World Language Teacher of the Year and the Chinese Association of Columbia’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Additional recognition includes the University of South Carolina College of Education’s 2026 Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Outstanding Achievement Award. Zhang is pursuing the doctorate in Language and Literacy at the University of South Carolina, where Zhang earned a master’s degree in the same field in 2022. A bachelor’s degree in English was earned at Neijiang Normal University in China in 2015.

Zhang holds South Carolina certifications in Chinese, ESOL, and literacy teaching, coaching, and specialist practice, along with Read to Succeed and Gifted and Talented endorsements. Beyond school, Zhang contributes to cultural exchange through the Chinese Association of Columbia’s Chinese Drum Dance Team, performing at community festivals and celebrations.

Tyler Santiago is a curriculum specialist, instructional coach, and professional development facilitator with a background in elementary education and educational technology implementation. As a Curriculum Specialist with Savvas Learning Company, Santiago delivers mathematics program presentations and activation training, supports pilot teachers, and helps educators connect instructional technology with K–5 standards and classroom practice.

Before joining Savvas in June 2025, Santiago served as a Curriculum Resource Teacher and Instructional Leader at Hyatt Park Elementary School in Richland County School District One. In that role, Santiago coached teachers in lesson planning, instructional delivery, and classroom management; modeled teaching strategies; and led professional learning focused on student achievement and mathematical growth. Responsibilities also included curriculum events, family workshops, and communication designed to strengthen parent participation in learning.

Santiago’s earlier work at Hyatt Park included service as a mathematics interventionist and third-grade teacher. As an interventionist, Santiago developed individualized plans for more than 50 students, contributing to a 20 percent improvement in mathematics proficiency rates. Classroom teaching involved adapting instruction for diverse learners and using formative assessment to guide targeted support. Santiago also served as a grade-level lead, cooperating teacher for student teachers from Columbia International University, and Saturday Academy administrator.

Additional experience includes a contract implementation specialist role with ClassDojo, supporting schools and districts through training on communication tools, portfolios, and behavior systems. Other school and district contributions have included elementary mathematics curriculum guide writing, AVID site team leadership, and planning mathematics and literacy family nights. Together, these roles reflect Santiago’s focus on practical teacher support, purposeful technology use, and collaborative learning environments.

Santiago holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina. Santiago is pursuing a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning at the University of South Carolina, with expected completion in 2029, and is an AACTE Holmes Scholar. Honors include Hyatt Park Elementary’s 2023–2024 Teacher of the Year award. Professional credentials include early childhood certification, South Carolina mentor and SCTS 4.0 evaluator credentials, LETRS preparation, and Gifted and Talented and Read to Succeed endorsements.

Kassi D. Tarlton is a kindergarten teacher and teacher leader at Lake Carolina Elementary School’s Lower Campus in Richland School District Two. Since joining the school in 2017, Tarlton has combined early childhood classroom teaching with curriculum development, professional learning, and mentorship for new and future educators.

Tarlton contributes to school improvement through service on the School Improvement Council, Teacher Forum, and AVID Site Team, where Tarlton serves as co-lead. Earlier leadership includes participation on the School Leadership Team and Faculty Advisory Council. Through these roles and the Gators Improving School Together initiative, Tarlton works with administrators, colleagues, and families to support shared decision-making and a positive school culture.

Teacher development is a major focus of Tarlton’s professional service. As a University of South Carolina Master Coaching Teacher, Tarlton supports preservice teachers through classroom modeling, reflective feedback, and coaching built on strong professional relationships. As co-lead of Most Valuable Gators, Tarlton provides individualized guidance to new teachers in instructional planning, classroom management, and the early years of the profession. Participation in CarolinaTIP and the USC Coaching Academy has further informed this work.

Tarlton has served on the district’s Summer Curriculum Team for three summers, helping develop and refine instructional resources for districtwide use. Professional presentations include district in-service sessions, New to Two programming for first-year teachers, and the CarolinaTIP Inquiry Matters Conference. These presentations share practical approaches to open house preparation, the first days of school, classroom management, and the role of coaching in the beginning teacher experience. Tarlton has also written a CarolinaTIP professional article on retaining, supporting, and encouraging new teachers.

Recognition includes Teacher of the Year honors for 2024–2025 and the University of South Carolina’s 2026 Sallie S. Ortmann Innovative Teacher Award. Tarlton earned a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina in 2017 and has pursued graduate study in education administration at the same institution. Credentials include South Carolina early childhood educator certification, LETRS certification, a Read to Succeed Literacy Teacher endorsement, and AVID certification. Tarlton’s work reflects a continuing commitment to young learners and to helping educators build confidence and a sense of belonging in the profession.

Kahla Ellison is an international educational leader with experience in school administration, curriculum development, classroom teaching, and educator training across the United States, China, Ghana, and Uganda. As Dean of Student Life at Heritage International School in Uganda, a role beginning in August 2026, Ellison leads extracurricular activities and student engagement programs while overseeing student well-being, discipline, and pastoral care.

Previously, Ellison served as Head of School at GTIIT-Affiliated International School in Shantou, China, from 2022 to 2025. In that role, Ellison guided strategic planning, supported faculty and staff, managed school finances, and worked with families and community partners to strengthen the school’s learning environment. Responsibilities also included regulatory compliance and the school’s transition to a new campus in February 2024.

Ellison’s leadership at GTIIT grew from earlier service as a curriculum lead, second- and third-grade teacher, and social studies team leader. As curriculum lead, Ellison planned schoolwide training, coached K–8 teachers on classroom strategies, and collaborated with administrators on school goals. Other initiatives included a local school partnership to encourage cross-cultural understanding, a Parent University to help families understand school curricula and structures, and opportunities for students to showcase academic accomplishments.

Before working in China, Ellison taught first grade at Oakland Primary School in South Carolina from 2014 to 2020. Work there included developing lessons for a team of 12 teachers, participating in professional learning communities, and providing after-school reading and mathematics support. Ellison also served as PTA president, partnering with the community, managing a yearly budget, and coordinating action plans. In 2019, Ellison worked as an instructor with Limited Resource Teacher Training in Kumasi, Ghana, modeling teaching practices and training educators in classroom management and student relationships.

Ellison holds a Master of Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina. Professional credentials include South Carolina licenses in elementary school administration and early childhood education, along with a Read to Succeed endorsement. Across these roles, Ellison’s work centers on collaborative school culture, teacher development, and supportive learning environments that promote student success.

Sarah Campbell Harllee is a sixth-grade English language arts teacher at Busbee Creative Arts Academy in Lexington School District Two, South Carolina. Harllee’s professional work combines literacy teaching, arts integration, curriculum development, and emerging school leadership. A central goal is to build a collaborative school culture in which students feel supported and connected to learning while developing the confidence to take intellectual risks.

Since joining Busbee in 2023, Harllee has taken on responsibilities that extend beyond the classroom. As sixth-grade team lead, Harllee facilitates weekly collaboration and communication on instruction, school activities, and behavioral support processes. Harllee also serves as a teacher representative on the School Improvement Council and as the sixth-grade representative on the Arts Steering Committee, contributing to the school’s arts mission and vision and sharing examples of classroom arts integration.

Harllee has worked on Lexington Two’s summer curriculum writing team, collaborating to develop four unit blueprints for sixth-grade English language arts. Graduate capstone research in educational administration has focused on the experiences of multilingual learners at Busbee. Using qualitative and quantitative evidence, Harllee shared recommendations with school administrators intended to support WIDA ACCESS performance and school accountability outcomes. Participation in the Lex2 Grows Leadership Cohort further supports Harllee’s preparation for school leadership.

Harllee earned a Master of Education in Language and Literacy from the University of South Carolina and graduated summa cum laude from the university with a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Level Education. Undergraduate recognition included Leadership Distinction in Professional and Civic Engagement. Harllee’s preparation also includes graduate study in Educational Administration at the University of South Carolina, middle level certification in English language arts and social studies, and a Gifted and Talented endorsement.

Honors include the University of South Carolina College of Education’s 2026 Outstanding New Teacher Award and Lexington School District Two’s 2023–2024 Middle School Teacher Rookie of the Year recognition. Harllee is a 2026 CarolinaTIP program completer and serves on university advisory groups supporting Teaching Fellows and educator preparation. Conference presentations have addressed formative assessment, professional learning communities, early career teaching, student engagement, and instructional technology, extending Harllee’s contribution to the preparation and growth of fellow educators.

Rhine Kirkland is Assistant Principal of Instruction at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill School District Three, South Carolina. In this role since 2023, Kirkland supports curriculum, assessment, staff development, and school improvement while helping coordinate the systems that sustain student progress. Responsibilities include the master schedule, accreditation, personnel, attendance, and support for senior success through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports.

Kirkland’s path into school administration includes service as Northwestern’s program coordinator and testing coordinator. As program coordinator, Kirkland provided instructional leadership for English and social studies, coordinated Advanced Placement and literacy efforts, and supported academic coaching, dropout prevention, and graduation services. Earlier testing responsibilities encompassed major school assessments, while participation on instructional leadership and improvement teams helped shape ACT and SAT support and the Summer Bridge program for rising freshmen.

Before entering administration, Kirkland taught English and journalism at Northwestern High School and English language arts at South Middle School in Lancaster County. Additional roles included data coach, department chair, team leader, host teacher, and mentor teacher. Kirkland also co-taught graduate and undergraduate education courses as an adjunct professor at Winthrop University. This experience across classroom teaching, teacher preparation, and student support informs Kirkland’s approach to instructional leadership.

Kirkland earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Practice and Innovation with a concentration in Curriculum Studies from the University of South Carolina. The 2025 dissertation examined teachers’ cultural competence and curriculum development in advanced English courses. Kirkland also holds master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Middle Level Education, along with a bachelor’s degree in English with teacher certification, from Winthrop University. Credentials include elementary and secondary principal certification, English and middle level language arts certification, and a Gifted and Talented endorsement.

A 2026 Rock Hill School District Assistant Principal of the Year finalist, Kirkland has presented on professional learning, advanced studies, student data use, cultural competence, and classroom dialogue. Professional affiliations include the South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. Across these contributions, Kirkland brings together instructional planning, educator collaboration, and coordinated support for student success.

Shane Fidler is Athletic Director at White Knoll High School in Lexington, South Carolina, overseeing an athletics program with 20 varsity teams. Since assuming the role in April 2025, Fidler has worked on coach recruitment, community partnerships, booster club renewal, financial tracking, and planning for athletic facility improvements. The role builds on extensive experience as a high school athletic administrator, head football coach, and educator.

Before joining White Knoll, Fidler served as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Airport High School from 2023 to 2025. During that period, Fidler helped lead more than $1 million in athletic facility improvements, expanded football participation from 45 players to more than 90, and guided the program to consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in a decade. The school also earned four regional championships across different sports during Fidler’s tenure as athletic director.

Earlier head coaching positions at Ashley Ridge and Waccamaw high schools combined competitive improvement with program growth and student support. At Ashley Ridge, varsity and junior varsity participation grew from 93 to 173 players, and 11 athletes signed to play at the collegiate level. At Waccamaw, Fidler helped move the football program from a winless season to seven wins and a playoff berth over three seasons, established a Touchdown Club that raised $90,000 in its first three seasons, and created academic tutoring support for players.

Across coaching roles, Fidler has organized free youth camps and family engagement events and secured federal support for student-athlete meals. Professional leadership includes directing the South Carolina Football Coaches Association’s 35 & Under Academy, co-directing Carolina Coaches Combines, and serving as a bracket committee chair. Fidler has published in AFCA Magazine and presented at coaching clinics and conventions on program development, football instruction, and leadership through difficult circumstances.

Fidler’s honors include selection for the American Football Coaches Association’s 2019 35 Under 35 Coaching Leadership Institute, the Carolina Panthers’ 2019 Coach of the Week recognition, and the 2019 South Carolina 3A State Strength Coach of the Year award. Fidler holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Social Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Business Administration minor from the University of South Carolina, along with teaching certifications in physical education and social studies.

Aherial Drayton is an educator and higher education administrator whose career spans secondary education, technical college instruction, academic leadership and workforce development. She serves as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Augusta Technical College in Augusta, Georgia, where she leads general education programs, supports faculty and staff development, strengthens transfer and dual-enrollment partnerships, and advances student success. During her tenure, the division has experienced a 20% increase in enrollment over multiple semesters.

Before joining Augusta Technical College in 2024, Drayton served as department chair of Chemistry, Physics and Nuclear Technology and as a chemistry instructor at Aiken Technical College. In that role, she coordinated the Production Operator Apprenticeship Program, collaborating with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Savannah River National Laboratory, Savannah River Mission Completion and area high schools to prepare students for careers in the nuclear workforce. Her teaching experience also includes science instruction at Richland Northeast and Chapin high schools and with Benedict College’s Upward Bound program.

Drayton earned a Doctor of Education in Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education from Valdosta State University in December 2025. Her dissertation examined nuclear apprenticeship participants’ perceptions of self-confidence in the workforce in South Carolina and Georgia. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina. Her research and presentations have addressed workforce development, apprenticeship pathways and technical education.

Her professional accomplishments include Valdosta State University’s 2025–2026 Outstanding Educational Leadership Doctoral Student Award, recognition as one of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch, the 2023 A. Wade Martin Award for Innovation, and Aiken Technical College’s 2022 Faculty Member of the Year award. She was also named a 2020–2021 South Carolina Technical Education Association Educator of the Year in the faculty category.

Beyond the classroom, Drayton has served on the boards of the American Nuclear Society’s Savannah River Section and Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and remains engaged in educational and community service initiatives.

Jordan G. Page is a clinical instructor in Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina College of Education and the owner and consultant of Page by Page Literacy, LLC. Page’s work connects early childhood education, literacy instruction, and teacher preparation, with an emphasis on helping future educators translate coursework into effective classroom practice.

At the university, Page coordinates supervision for Internship I and Internship II, managing and supporting up to 25 university supervisors. Responsibilities include developing internship orientations, strengthening candidate support systems, standardizing field placement materials, and producing training resources. Page also coordinates scheduling and staffing for the Early Childhood Education program and serves as course coordinator for several courses in play, early learning, and clinical practice.

Page’s teaching experience includes university courses in reading, writing, play, and early childhood teaching, as well as first-grade classroom teaching at P.S. 59 Beekman Hill International School in New York City. Before moving into higher education, Page served as a literacy coach at Round Top Elementary School in Richland School District Two. Those classroom and coaching experiences inform Page’s approach to preparing teachers and supporting their professional growth.

Program development is another central part of Page’s work. Contributions include establishing a partnership with the Center for Inquiry in Richland Two, developing a Read to Succeed alignment matrix, and creating five supplemental modules aligned with new Read to Succeed examination requirements. Page has also developed early literacy and child development courses scheduled for implementation in fall 2027. Professional leadership includes service as president-elect of the Columbia Area Literacy Association and as an Early Childhood and Literacy Innovator with the Scholastic Innovation Lab.

Page earned a Master of Arts as a Literacy Specialist from Teachers College, Columbia University, and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina. Additional preparation includes LETRS certification, Orton-Gillingham training, literacy teacher and coach endorsements, and SCTS 4.0 evaluator certification. Through conference presentations, student mentorship, program service, and work with the Junior League of Columbia, Page contributes to early literacy learning and the development of future educators.

Valente’ D. Gibson is Assistant Principal at Jackson Creek Elementary School in Columbia, South Carolina. Gibson’s work combines instructional leadership, student support, school safety, and culturally responsive education. Since entering the role in July 2025, Gibson has supervised and evaluated teachers, used assessment data to guide instruction, and led the school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports across academic, attendance, behavioral, health, and wellness needs.

Gibson’s administrative responsibilities also include coordinating special education services, supporting individualized education program compliance, overseeing homebound instruction, and managing emergency preparedness and crisis response. Before becoming assistant principal, Gibson coordinated Richland School District Two’s 21st Century Grant, supporting elementary after-school programming through staff development, program evaluation, and alignment with district goals and grant requirements.

Gibson began teaching at Jackson Creek in 2017, serving students in third and fifth grades through culturally responsive instruction and restorative practices. As director of the school’s 21st Century after-school program from 2019 to 2024, Gibson led academic and enrichment opportunities for more than 100 students annually and partnered with community stakeholders on family support workshops. School service has included boys’ mentoring, AVID leadership, Beta Club sponsorship, heritage programming, and teacher preparation partnerships.

Beyond the school, Gibson has held leadership positions with the National Council of Teachers of English. Gibson has co-authored scholarship on culturally sustaining literacy, antiracist teaching, and the education of Black children, and has presented at literacy and education conferences. District leadership includes chairing the Richland Two Teacher Forum and serving on strategic planning and safety committees.

Gibson holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership from Columbia College, a Master of Education in Teaching with a multicultural education specialization from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. Honors include Richland Two District Teacher of the Year for 2021–2022, the International Literacy Association’s 2023 Top 30 Under 30 recognition, and the South Carolina Council for the Social Studies’ 2023 Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Award. These contributions reflect Gibson’s sustained focus on student voice, inclusive instruction, and strong school-community relationships.