There are many classes that Carolina Forest High School offers students. Teacher Cadet (Education 101) is a course that is offered to high-achieving juniors and seniors.
This course is provided through the South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement Center (CERRA) and Coastal Carolina University.The overall focus of this class is to help those students who are considering education/teaching as a career.
Teacher Cadet has been around for 34 years and is serving many schools throughout the state of South Carolina. Teacher Cadets will gain leadership skills and life-enriching experiences while taking the semester class. Upon completion of the program, all eligible students will receive a three-hour college credit, along with high school AP-weighted credit.
Towards the end of the semester, the Cadets are placed in all levels of school classrooms in the local Carolina Forest area for three weeks. These students have the time to work and get experience as anyone in the education program at CCU.
Payton Yates is a senior and currently a part of the Teacher Cadet class. She was placed in Ocean Bay Middle school for her internship.
Yates shared, “I love being able to be in the classroom and experience what its like to be a teacher. I would recommend this class to anyone who wants to see what it is like to be a teacher. I believe that this is a great opportunity for all high school students.”
South Carolina also has a Teaching Fellows Scholarship Program. The mission of the program is to recruit talented high school seniors into the teaching profession and help them develop leadership qualities. Each year, the program provides fellowships of $24,000 for up to 230 high school seniors who have exhibited high academic achievement, a history of service to their school and community and/or have work experience, and also possess a desire to teach in South Carolina.
Teaching Fellows recipients participate in advanced enrichment programs at Teaching Fellows Institutions, have additional professional development opportunities, and are involved with communities and businesses throughout the state.
Instructor Ann Twigg shared, “Taking this class is a wonderful opportunity for juniors and seniors who are interested in any educational or service career. The students are involved in a myriad of activities throughout the school year, along with having a semester of in-class instruction and field trips that enhance their understanding of what is involved in education and/or helping others.”
If you have any questions about this program, you can contact Ms. Twigg or find her in Tech 1 across from the library! Cadet applications for the 2025-26 school year will be available by the end of January 2025.
