CCSD’s Kaleidoscope program honored by The Citadel

The Citadel chooses a nominee for the South Carolina Engaged Community Partner Award each spring. This year, the military college chose Charleston County School District’s (CCSD) Kaleidoscope program to be its nominee for this year’s prestigious honor. Leaders of CCSD’s afterschool initiative, run by the Office of Expanded Learning, will be honored at The Citadel’s Spring Partner Awards Celebration Luncheon on April 17, 2017.

Pictured (L-R) are: Danielle Daniels, Shelia Grier, Darron Teel, Candice White, and Michelle Mitchell

“We are honored to be recognized for this momentous award,” said Jason Sakran, CCSD’s Director of Expanded Learning. “Both the Department of Expanded Learning and The Citadel believe strongly in the potential for all students. Our long-standing partnership has helped thousands of students over the years, and we are looking forward to our continued work together.”

“They have been our longest and strongest partner since a decade ago when we began to develop community relationships at deeper levels,” The Citadel’s Director of Service Learning and Civic Engagement, Dr. Conway Saylor, explained. “Led by Shelia Grier, who has directed and advocated for critical afterschool and summer programs for high-risk youth in downtown Title I schools under various titles, the Kaleidoscope program has morphed into a wider array of impactful, top-quality enrichment programs, which expand learning opportunities for Charleston’s most vulnerable students.”

Dr. Saylor also credited the administrative support of Candice White, the schoolbased program coordination by Danielle Daniels at Sanders-Clyde School and Darron Teel at James Simons Elementary, and the dedication of Michelle Mitchell to CCSD’s EPIC summer programs. Dr. Saylor says Kaleidoscope has deeply impacted the lives of children throughout the area, as well as provided quality development and hands-on training for the cadets at The Citadel.

“The true value of our mutual trust and respect came into clear focus as we carried the affected children and families, as well as each other, through the summer of 2015 (Emmanuel AME church shootings) and the summer of 2016 (adapting and implementing programs for the sake of the children even through severe budget cuts and displacement to non-optimal spaces),” added Saylor. “This is a textbook example of the sustained, mutually-beneficial partnership that makes community engagement succeed.”

The winner of the 2017 South Carolina Engaged Community Partner Award will be announced at the SC Campus Compact Awards ceremony in Greenville, SC on April 21, 2017.

About the Charleston County School District

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is the second largest school system in South Carolina representing a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools that span 1,000 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves more than 50,000 students in 86 schools and several specialized programs. With approximately 6,100 employees district-wide, CCSD is the fourth largest employer in the region.

CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options and specialized programs, delivered through neighborhood, charter, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), and Montessori schools, and is divided into three Learning Communities led by associate superintendents. Options include specialized programs in science, engineering and mathematics; liberal arts; music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; and military and other public service enterprises.