8 South Carolina professional and civic leaders named to prestigious education policy program

November 10, 2021

Eight (8) professional and civic leaders from across South Carolina have been selected to participate in the SC Education Policy Fellowship Program (SC-EPFP) for 2021-22.

SC-EPFP is a 10-month intensive professional development program for established and emerging leaders in education and related fields to help equip them in working toward sound education policy and practice in South Carolina. SC-EPFP Fellows participate in a variety of activities to promote leadership, develop professional networks, demystify education policy, and foster greater understanding of the roles of government and the community in education.

Members of the SC-EPFP cohort for 2021-22 are:

Amy E. Carter – 2022 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA), Winthrop University

Ashley S. Cohoon – Elementary Assistant Principal, East Point Academy Public Charter School, West Columbia

Sarah S. Gams – 2021 South Carolina Teacher of the Year/Social Emotional Learning Program Director, CERRA / SC Department of Education

Claressa M. Hinton – Regional Family Engagement Liaison, Carolina Family Engagement Center (CFEC), University of South Carolina College of Education

Kimberly O. Johnson – South Carolina House of Representatives, District 64, Clarendon and Sumter Counties

Stephanie N. Lawrence, Esq. – Director of Policy and Legal Services, South Carolina School Boards Association

Cindy S. Riley – Executive Director, Colleton County First Steps

Dr. Andrea M. Sturkey – Director of Human Resources, Dorchester School District Four

“This year’s SC-EPFP cohort again represents some of the most dedicated and talented leaders from all corners of our state,” said Scott T. Price, Executive Director for the SC School Boards Association and SC-EPFP Advisory Board Chair. “Together, they will work to develop new perspectives, hone their professional skills, and network with other committed leaders so they can take definitive steps for meaningful education improvement at the state and local levels.”

South Carolina Fellows will meet monthly throughout the academic year for full-day dialogues, exercises, and group projects, in addition to a three-day Washington Policy Seminar in the nation’s capital in March.

SC-EPFP operates under the auspices of the national Education Policy Fellowship Program of the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) in Washington, DC, which oversees Fellowship programs in 10 states and the District of Columbia. In South Carolina the program is coordinated by the SC School Improvement Council, located in the Center for Educational Partnerships of the University of South Carolina College of Education.

Since its inception in South Carolina, SC-EPFP has produced nearly 250 program graduates from a variety of professional backgrounds.

SC-EPFP is supported by an advisory board providing cross-disciplinary leadership representing the state’s K-12 education, higher education, and business communities.

For additional information on the SC Education Policy Fellowship Program, visit the SC-EPFP page online at https://sic.sc.gov/sic-information/sc-education-policy-fellowship-program-sc-epfp.