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College of Education

2025 News

Local educator's farmers market gives students new perspectives

Ashley Bennett teaches geography at Woodruff Middle School. She is a participant in the College of Education's AWAKE-STEM programming and is earning her project-based learning endorsement. Her students are using the unit to propose solutions to the problem of food production and accessibility in their community and school.

USC Board of Trustees approves key renovation projects, new center

The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees gave final approval Tuesday (Dec. 16) to projects designed to reinvigorate several iconic buildings in the heart of the Columbia campus.The Board also approved the establishment of the Bullying Prevention Center at the College of Education.

USC researchers seek to improve K-12 mental health with new center

The University of South Carolina is helping the state improve youth mental health through education, consulting and more. Now a new effort will help faculty conduct more research to enhance these efforts in South Carolina and beyond. The USC Center for School Behavioral Health involves nearly two dozen faculty members who will collaborate to advance their research on school behavioral health, prepare staff in schools on promoting student mental health and grow the next generation of researchers. Collaborating faculty work in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Social Work, the College of Education and the Arnold School of Public Health.

SC TEACHER to pilot survey studying school administrator experiences

The SC Administrator Working Conditions Survey will open for school administrators in participating districts throughout South Carolina in January 2026. Building upon the success of the SC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (conducted by SC TEACHER every other year), this complementary study will study the experiences of school administrators.

Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipients!

We are proud of our students' achievements and grateful for our many donors who support the mission of the College of Education in our state and beyond.

College of Education Alumni: 12 Under 40

Meet twelve College of Education alumni who are advancing the profession and exemplifying leadership qualities in their local communities.

USC awarded grant to support special education administration

The University of South Carolina special education program, Rutgers University, and Northern Arizona University were awarded a five year, $3.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the grant is to provide funding for a Ph.D. in special education administration.

SC TEACHER proposes leveraging large language models (LLMs) to drive teacher retention policies in SC

At this year's Artificial Intelligence in Measurement and Education Conference (AIME-Con), researchers from SC TEACHER presented on the potential for large language models (LLMs) to offer scalable support in analyzing open-ended responses from the SC Teacher Working Conditions Survey.

New Faculty Q&A: Chad Rose, Ph.D.

Chad Rose is a new Professor of Special Education with nearly 20 years' experience studying bullying and bullying prevention. One of his priorities is developing the Bullying Prevention Center at USC. The Center will support schools and communities across South Carolina.

Get to know Staff Senate President Chris Burkett

Chris Burkett, the assistant dean for student services in the College of Education, spent over 30 years in the field of education, including 11 as a social studies teacher in middle and high schools. He has been a member of Staff Senate since its inception five years ago, representing his colleagues in education before moving to the executive committee. He became president in August.

New Faculty Q&A: Mary Hansen, Ph.D.

Mary Hansen, Ph.D. is a new Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Educational and Developmental Science. She's joining USC after two decades as a faculty member at Robert Morris University near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Full Circle

Joey Muolo came to college with big plans to become an engineer. His goals were set, but a high school experience kept flickering in his mind. During his senior year, he participated in an educational practicum course where a passion for teaching was ignited. "The experience of teaching was life changing," says Muolo. "I loved my students so much and knew I could make a difference teaching math."

New Faculty Q&A: Ashey Plumb, Ph.D.

Ashley Plumb, Ph.D. is a new Clinical Assistant Professor of Special Education.

New Faculty Q&A: Brooke Whitworth, Ph.D.

Brooke Whitworth, Ph.D. is a new Professor of Science Education.

New Faculty Q&A: Blair Payne, Ph.D., BCBA

Blair Payne, Ph.D., BCBA, is a new faculty member in the Educational and Developmental Science Department as of Fall 2025.

New Faculty Q&A: Chandler Casner

Chandler Casner is the new Director of the Physical Activities Program. Chandler has over 10 years of experience in physical education, including coaching multiple sports, serving 3 years as an athletic director, and teaching adapted physical education.

New Faculty Q&A: J'haria Dallas, Ph.D., N.C.C.

J'haria Dallas, Ph.D., N.C.C. is a new Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational and Developmental Science.

There and Back Again: Albert Robertson goes from classroom to administrator and back... and back again!

Albert Robertson had the opportunity to pursue a master's in education administration at USC. He was a successful administrator, but missed working with students. In 2020, he found joy helping other teachers any way he could, finally becoming an award-winning assistant principal.

New Faculty Q&A: Jessaca Spybrook, Ph.D.

Jessaca Spybrook is a new Professor of Research Methods in the Education Research & Measurement Program.

New Faculty Q&A: Morgan Eckenrod, Ph.D., CMPC

Morgan Eckenrod, Ph.D., CMPC, is a new faculty member in the Educational and Developmental Science Department as of Fall 2025.

CarolinaLIFE partner hotel named "The Lantern Hotel Columbia"

CarolinaLIFE students will soon have a new employment opportunity available in The Lantern Hotel Columbia!

The Duke Endowment funds COE research supporting school mental health

More than 22 percent of children ages 3 to 17 have mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral health concerns according to the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health. Researchers in USC's College of Education received $636,000 from The Duke Endowment to work with high-needs schools in Aiken County to provide evidence-based approaches to school mental health practitioners, meeting the needs of students and families.

University of South Carolina College of Education among 34 Educator Prep Programs Recognized for National Excellence

- The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced today that University of South Carolina College of Education is one of 34 providers from 15 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs. The Spring 2025 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council resulted in 34 educator preparation providers receiving accreditation.

GEAR UP South Carolina Partners with National Math and Science Initiative to Expand High-Quality STEM Professional Development Across Seven School Districts

The new $560K initiative will support up to 270 teachers through workshops, coaching, and collaborative training to elevate STEM education statewide

Former student body presidents say USC experience led them to great things in life

Serving as student body president can be a transformative role not only for the university, but also for the individual. We spoke with four former student body presidents to discuss their experiences and how their time at USC aided them in their professional lives.

An update from the Fairfield County Teacher Village

Juan Alvarado is wrapping up his first year of teaching in Fairfield County and living in the newly developed Fairfield Teacher Village. The year has brought the excitement and challenges that all first-year educators face. As the inaugural resident in the College of Education Educator-in-Residence home, Alvarado built a strong foundation with fellow community members.

A Reflection on the Inaugural Summit for Advancing the Higher Education Pathway in the Southeast for Hispanics and Latinos

On March 24, 2025, the University of South Carolina Latino and Hispanic Faculty Caucus and SC Centro Latino co-hosted an inaugural summit, Advancing the Higher Education Pathway in the Southeast for Hispanics and Latinos. This groundbreaking event brought together scholars, students, and leaders from across the state and region to address the needs and experiences of Latino and Hispanic communities within higher education.

2025 Student Awards

Each spring, the College of Education faculty recognizes students for their high level of achievement in their academic pursuits, research and community impact. Congratulations to our Spring 2025 award recipients!

University Libraries Honors Graduate Students with 2025 Data Visualization Awards

Four University of South Carolina graduate students are the winners of University Libraries’ 2025 Graduate Student Data Visualization Award, including Pighla Arerzo Sediqi, Ph.D. candidate in Education Administration in the College of Education.

Championing Inclusivity and Excellence at Airport High School

Matt Schilit, the dedicated principal of Airport High School, has recently been honored as Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children. This prestigious award recognizes his unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, particularly those with special needs. The council's mission is to "improve educational outcomes and quality of life of individuals with exceptionalities and their families through the actions of professionals, advocates and other agencies."

US News Rankings: College of Education soars to spot 27, number 18 in public institutions

The College of Education improved two spots, ranking No. 27 in the overall Best Education Schools, and is No. 18 nationally among public institutions and No. 4 among SEC schools. The college has improved by 60 spots in the rankings over the past three years.

Unpack information on the 2023-24 South Carolina teacher workforce in SC TEACHER's latest release

This year's workforce profile examines data by school organizational level, while also comparing state-level findings to national and regional trends, to better understand potential relationships between workforce characteristics and the teacher pipeline.

Supporting others is the power up for this year's Secondary Principal of the Year

When most people hear, "principal of the year," they would likely imagine someone who grew up enjoying school and breezing through their lessons. For Matt Sherman, (2011, Education Administration) that was not the case. During his childhood, he struggled academically. With the support of his teachers, he persevered and went on to not only teach but become the 2025 South Carolina Association of School Administrators Secondary Principal of the Year.

The 2025 Champions of Education

Each year the College of Education honors outstanding and innovative educators in South Carolina.

Best Practices: One student's research creates more informed teacher preparation

Shea Ferguson's journey into the world of educational psychology began with a simple yet profound question: How can we better prepare teachers to understand the science of learning and development?

Keighley George is a 2025 Milken Educator Award Recipient

Keighley George (2018, Master of Education in Teaching) grew up in a family of educators. She always knew she would join the profession to make a difference in the lives of others. She wanted her job to be meaningful and purpose driven. Recently, her work was honored when George was presented with the Milken Educator Award, a prestigious national honor hailed as the "Oscar of Teaching," that recognizes exceptional educators for their dedication to excellence in education and leadership.

Think, Solve, Succeed- Thinking critically with IRED at Family STEM Day in Charleston

The Institute for Rural Education and Development presented critical thinking activities for children and adults at Family STEM Day in Charleston.

2-time Olympic gold medalist's 2nd act connects athletes' minds, bodies

Natasha Hastings came to the University of South Carolina with dreams of excelling as an athlete. Although her talent eventually would propel her to an NCAA championship, multiple world championships and two Olympic gold medals, her initial start on the Gamecock track and field team was less than stellar. Her body was sound, but she had psychological demons to slay.

Chris Burkett is named the recipient of the Dr. Jennifer Wilson Excellence in Teaching Award

Gamecock EdQuarters Executive Director, Chris Burkett, Ed.D., is the 2025 Dr. Jennifer Wilson Excellence in Teaching Award recipient. Award recipients across the state were nominated by their peers for their dedication to middle level education.

Groundbreaking Beginnings: Shaping the Future with SKIP+CODE

Pre-med student Hailey Smith shares her experience working with the Institute for Rural Education and Development on the SKIP+CODE core of the project.

Impacting every era

Norah Dixon graduated in December. Along the way she had a wide and varied educational journey, including research on Richard Greener alongside COE professor Christian Anderson.

Professor inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame

Catherine Compton-Lilly was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame. This elite group of educators and scholars shapes reading education and helps to make reading accessible for learners of all ages. Compton-Lilly shares her research, career experiences and hopes for her position.

COE faculty recognized for social justice work

The University of South Carolina has recognized students, faculty and staff members for their work on campus and in the larger community with 2025 Social Justice Awards.

Life Starts Here!

USC’s CarolinaLIFE is a nondegree, residential, inclusive program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CarolinaLIFE students explore their career interests and hone their employment skills through individualized coaching and access to University of South Carolina courses. On any given day, staff members might prepare them for job interviews, teach them about budgeting money or introduce them to campus organizations.

USC alumnus finds his true calling in the kindergarten classroom

Charleston native Keith Heyward, Jr. was a restless third-grader when he realized his career goal was to teach. In the years since kindergarten, the inquisitive boy regularly had been disciplined for “talking too much” in the classroom. Now he uses this questionable attribute for good.

College of Education at the Literacy Research Association

The College of Education was well-represented at the Literacy Research Association Conference in Atlanta, Ga, with more than 10 current and former graduate students and seven professors presenting at the conference. In addition to our excellent representation, Professor Catherine Compton Lilly was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame.

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