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Congratulations to the following newly elected officers!
Vice-President Elect (serve a 5-year term)
Alice Gilchrist: Upper Savannah Mathematics and Science Regional Center
Alice Gilchrist is the Science Specialist for the Upper Savannah Mathematics and Science Regional Center, a division of the South Carolina Department of Education Math and Science Unit. As Science Specialist in the Upper Savannah region, she has proudly served the schools in Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, and Saluda counties for the past eleven years.
She is a former elementary classroom teacher, with a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Lander University. She recently began her eighteenth year as a South Carolina educator. A member of the South Carolina Science Council since 1989, she has presented at the conference numerous times. She has also presented at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) conference, the South Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (SCCTM) conference and in many school districts across the state.
Alice had the privilege to serve on the writing team for the revision of the South Carolina Science Standards and the creation of the South Carolina Standards Support Document. While this was an extremely tedious process, she is very proud of the document and the information providing teachers for their classroom instruction and assessment
One of the highlights of Alice's educational career was being chosen to participate in a NASA teacher training program. She had the opportunity to meet the past and future scientists of our national space program and fly a plane. She and her husband Terry reside in Greenwood, SC and are involved in The Abbeville Opera House community theatre, church, and local civic organizations. Staying busy provides her with many amusing stories to share as she travels across the state.
2007-2009 Secretary (serve a 2-year term)
Derenda Marshall: McDonald Elementary School
Having taught for 23 years, I have always used science as the vehicle to drive my curriculum and classroom instruction. I am National Board Certified and have received both South Carolina Project Learning Tree Teacher of the Year and National Project Learning Tree Educator of the Year. Throughout my career, I have conducted numerous science workshops, taught college level science courses, and provided kit training for teachers. I am also representing my county at the Standards Support Institutes this year and will be providing professional development for the teachers. I’m constantly seeking opportunities to increase my knowledge in order to help all students and assist other teachers with effective methods and best practices for implementing science in their classrooms. Currently, I am the Science Specialist at McDonald Elementary School in Georgetown County . I believe I have the experience and knowledge to be an asset to the (SC)2 Executive Board and would graciously accept the opportunity and responsibilities to work at the state level in order to have an impact on teachers throughout the state, not just my county.
2007-2009 Treasurer (serve a 2-year term)
William L. Austin: Pocalla Springs Elementary School
After serving on the Board of Directors for the past five years I feel I still have more to offer as the Council’s Treasurer. I am a dedicated Science Teacher and Coach with thirteen years experience who teachers at Pocalla Springs Elementary School. I am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher, and have my Masters Degree in Elementary Education. I have done consultant work around the state in Science Education and testing and written a book “Dinosaur Pee” about the water cycle. In addition to my five years of experience on the South Carolina Science Council’s Board of Directors, I have also served as President of the Palmetto State Teacher’s Association, and President and Treasure of the State Chapter of the National Parent and Teacher Association. I served on the National Board as a Representative of the 50 State Presidents and on the National Budget and Finance Committee. I certainly understand the demands and responsibilities of Treasurer and I am willing to serve.
2007-2009 District 1 Director (serve a 2-year term)
Dina Ledford: Fort Dorchester High School
*I have been a member (13 years) and presenter at SC2 conferences for 12 years and counting. I haven’t missed a year in conducting workshops at the SC2 conferences in the last 12 years!
*Past President of SCESTA (SC Earth Science Teacher’s Association)
*Previous District I Director
*I am currently teaching in Dorchester School District 2 at Fort Dorchester High School (honors physical science, astronomy and earth science). This is my 15th year teaching science in SC’s public schools. I am secondary science certified in all subject areas grades 6-12, I am middle school science certified and I have my gifted and talented endorsement. I am currently working on my Masters in Secondary Math and Science Education through the College of Charleston.
*I have just completed serving a 2-year term as a national NASA MESSENGER Fellow, which included conducting a series of workshops at SC2 and at local venues (in the Lowcountry).
2007-2009 District 3 Director (serve a 2-year term)
Patricia Kornaus Morris: Strom Thurmond High School
I graduated from Strom Thurmond High School in 1981 and went on to attend Clemson. Four years later I walked across that stage at Little John Coliseum and received my Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. I worked as an engineer for fifteen years and received my Masters in Earth and Environmental Resource Management from the University of South Carolina in 1997 during this time. The work that I was involved with when employed with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Department of Energy was very rewarding, but I had the nagging desire to teach. I specifically wanted to teach Physics so that no student that I taught would ever feel that they could not be successful in a college course. The key was that the student needed to understand the concepts and not just memorize formulas and steps to solving problems. I am not saying that formulas and problem solving are not important, just that if you understand the concepts, memorization is not necessary. Students understand concepts through inquiry and model development. The student that is able to see and do the science is less likely to forget it.
In 1998 I was given the opportunity to take the voluntary buyout from the Savannah River Site. I took an introduction to education course at the University of South Carolina at Aiken and felt like that this was exactly were I belonged. With the support of my mother and family I attended a teacher certification program at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC and began teaching in the fall of 1999. I have taught with many wonderful teachers that have helped me to become the teacher that I am today.
I want to become a district representative, because I want to be more involved in the maintenance and upgrading of science education in the state of South Carolina. I believe SC has some of the best teachers in the nation and with continued professional development and support from the legislature we can continue to raise our test scores and subsequently the success of our students. The bottom line for the teachers, administrators, and public is that it is all about the students.
2007-2009 District 5 Director (serve a 2-year term)
Justin Lovelace: Park Hills Elementary
Justin Lovelace currently serves as Lead Interventionist at Park Hills Elementary in Spartanburg School District 7. He works closely with teachers in implementing an inquiry based system of science education. During the past four years, Mr. Lovelace has served as a District Science and Social Studies Consultant and Science Coach with Cherokee County School District One. By teaching model lessons, providing inservice training, and teaching science and social studies courses at the graduate level, Mr. Lovelace has worked to provide teachers with the tools necessary to create successful science experiences for our state’s children. During his service in Cherokee County, Mr. Lovelace worked extensively with first year teachers through teaching a district-wide course, and providing sessions to aid in lesson design, implementation, and reflection. Mr. Lovelace has traveled throughout the state as an educational consultant and guest lecturer. Through his varied roles and experiences, Mr. Lovelace has gained an invaluable insight into the dynamics of our state’s educational system and the way in which we need to teach to ensure our students are successful in understanding broad concepts instead of a set of isolated facts. It is because of the desire to reach out to our teachers and students that Mr. Lovelace is seeking election to the position of District V Director in order to share his experiences, learn form others, and bring continuing outreach to our schools.
SC Science Academic Standards Support Guide is now available online. The Science Standards Support Guide expands upon each indicator to provide educators with additional content information such as guidelines for assessment. It will assist educators with the successful implementation of standards-based science instruction.
The first annual Dr. William F. Palmer Service Award was presented to Ms. Dawn Allen for her years of dedicated service in assisting at the registration desk each year of the conference. Ms. Allen received a plaque and a $500 check. The award was given at the annual business meeting November 3, 2007.
(SC)2 2007-2008 Grant Winners!
Congratulations to the following members on being awarded (SC)2 Teacher Grant funds for the 2007-2008 school year. All members are encouraged to submit a grant request each year.
- Mary S Burts (Cardinal Newman School, Columbia) “A Naturalist's Journal” $700.00
- Amy Kittrell (Orangeburg Preparatory School, Orangeburg) "Biology Laboratory Equipment Upgrade" $999.00
- Jeff O'Shields (Travelers Rest High School, Greenville) “Nanotechnology: Big Things Come in Small Packages” $1,000.00
- Paulette B Hill (Carver Junior High School, Spartanburg) “Looking Up Close" $1,000.00
- Jody Lackey (Camden Middle School, Kershaw) “Up, Up, and Away-Teaching Convection with Hot Air Balloons” $951.05
- Tamela Jett (Carolina Springs Elementary, Lexington 1) “Wroming Our Way Through Science” $932.75
- Cathy Perry (Oakland Primary School, Sumter) “Budding Scientists” $979.70
- Dr. Jonathan Obien (Orangeburg Preparatory School, Orangeburg) "Computer-Based Laboratory Expansion" $1,000.00
- Pat Pierce (Myrtle Beach Intermediate School, Horry County) "Sea Soup: Not Just the Bottom of the Food Chain" $980.95
- Annette Ghan (Palmetto Elementary School, Anderson 1) "Palms for the Palmetto State" $995.00
South Carolina students lead nation in improving on national science tests South Carolina students made dramatic improvements on national standardized science tests in 2005, the U.S. Department of Education announced today. The state's fourth-graders had the best gains in the nation, while eighth-graders had the third-best gains. To read more, click here.
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