Lander Teaching Fellows Program Shapes Future Leaders in South Carolina’s Classrooms
March 31, 2025
As a Teaching Fellows institution, Lander University’s College of Education proudly plays a vital role in preparing the best teachers for South Carolina’s classroom. This year, Teaching Fellows at Lander is celebrating its largest cohort in program history with a grand total of 82 Teaching Fellows.
“This year’s record-breaking cohort of Teaching Fellows at Lander is a testament to the dedication of our students and the strength of our teacher preparation program,” said Dr. Tamara Pack, assistant professor of education and assistant chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Lander. “We are incredibly proud to support and shape the future educators of South Carolina.”
Teaching Fellows is a statewide initiative of the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA), and funded by the South Carolina General Assembly. According to CERRA’s website, the mission of Teaching Fellows is to “recruit talented high school seniors into the teaching profession and help them develop leadership qualities.”
Those selected as Teaching Fellows receive yearly scholarships of $6,000 for four years while completing a college degree leading to teacher certification in South Carolina. Fellows agree to teaching in South Carolina for four years upon graduation, or one year for every year they receive the fellowship.
According to Teaching Fellows alumni at Lander, the support they received as fellows (both financial and academic) was invaluable to their preparation as teachers.
“Receiving the South Carolina Teaching Fellows scholarship was a game-changer for me,” said Katelyn Ramey, a graduate of the Class of 2023 at Lander, and a second year teacher at Emerald High School. Ramey was also named First-Year Teacher of the Year for the 2023-24 academic year at Emerald High. “It wasn’t just about the financial support, though that was incredibly helpful in allowing me to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher. It was also about being part of a community of dedicated future educators.”
“Our Teaching Fellows are not just learning how to be teachers,” Pack said. “They are developing leadership skills and a passion for lifelong learning that will make a lasting impact in classrooms across the state.”
Learn more about Lander University’s College of Education by visiting www.lander.edu/coe.
