Article by Jenny Proctor, Kershaw County Teacher Forum Chair (2021-22) and Journalism Teacher at Lugoff-Elgin High School.

June 2, 2022

On Tuesday, May 17, fifteen seniors representing Camden, Lugoff-Elgin, and North Central high schools participated in Kershaw County School District’s first Future Educator Signing Day. The event, sponsored by KCSD’s Teacher Forum, was intended to celebrate students who have decided to pursue careers in the field of education.

The signing day provided a chance for students, their families, and their educators to gather together in one room and honor the impact of teachers past, present, and future.

“As a KCSD graduate who returned to teach in the classroom at Lugoff-Elgin Middle School where I attended as a child, it was a fulfilling experience to watch high school seniors dedicate themselves to the process of becoming educators,” Brad Brazell, Teacher Forum Vice Chairperson, said.

Savannah Mullis, senior at LEHS, participated in the event because she believes educators should be celebrated.

“It was so good to see that our school district was doing something to recognize the importance of future educators, and I knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Mullis said.

Mullis, who wants to teach social studies, plans to major in secondary education at Anderson University, where she will be a part of the Teaching Fellows program.

“I want to be a teacher because I want a chance to impact the lives of students just as so many of my teachers have impacted me,” Mullis said. “I know that without the guidance I've received from my teachers over the years, I wouldn't be the person I am today. My goal is to make even half of the impact on my students that my teachers have made on me.”

During her time as a student in Kershaw County schools, Mullis believes she has been well-prepared for her future in education. Though she always thought she might want to be a teacher, her Teacher Cadet class confirmed her decision.
 
“[Through Teacher Cadet] I got the opportunity to work in an eighth grade classroom, and from the moment I did, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Mullis said. “Teacher Cadet gave me a taste of both the hardships and the rewards that come with teaching.”
 
While Teacher Forum members realize the hardships of the teaching profession are often highlighted, they want aspiring teachers to see the benefits associated with the career, and especially those associated with working in Kershaw County.
“Future Educator Signing Day is a tangible way that KCSD Teacher Forum demonstrates its commitment to teacher leadership and to facing the teacher recruitment crisis,” Brazell said. “The future educators who participated expressed that they were proud to be honored by their district. It seems likely that when they are ready to begin their careers, KCSD will be at the top of their lists to consider. They know that they will be supported by Teacher Forum in the classroom as they were when they were future educators.”

Photo Caption (left to right): Keliese Graham, Savannah Mullis, Kylee Bankson, Olivia Spivey, Rebecca Branham, Marcy Davis, Eden Mock, Hannah King, Emma Sims, Mackenzie Nelson, Hayley Russell, Gracie Parsons, Lily Roberts, and Emily Hall.