SC for Ed Diversity Roundtables
Click the flyer to view the previously held Diversity Roundtable Facebook Live event.
Hunter Durham. - I am originally from Blythewood, South Carolina where I attended school in Richland 2. I later went on to Winthrop University where I received my Bachelors degree in Middle Level Education with certifications in Math and Science. I am currently pursuing my Graduate degree from Liberty University, where I am studying School Counseling. I have taught math for the last 3 years and this year I am teaching science with the Rock Hill Virtual Academy. From very early on, I have felt called to work with students in poverty and title one schools. I love to travel and spending time with friends and family.
Rhine Kirkland, M.Ed. is a public school educator with ten years of teaching experience at the secondary and post-secondary levels. She is a triple eagle having earned a bachelors degree and two master of education degrees from Winthrop University. Mrs. Kirkland believes that access to a high quality education and resources are both critical and non-negotiable. Mrs. Kirkland resides with her husband Bobby and twins Riley and Braxton in Rock Hill, S.C.
Dr. Walter Lee MiSTER Walter Lee, the C.A.R.E. specialist, is currently an assistant professor of middle/secondary education at the University of South Carolina Upstate, campus coordinator of the nationally acclaimed Call Me MiSTER program and ambassador for the Black College Fund. Dr. Lee’s research agenda emphasizes self-concept development strategies for African American learners, which include intersectionality of poverty and race, colorblindness, equitable instructional practices, culturally relevant pedagogy, and cultural competence. His research methodologies are based on qualitative approaches, which include interviews, autoethnographies, and focus groups. Dr. Lee teaches courses on curriculum, instruction, and assessment and has presented locally and nationally on his theoretical framework for educating African American and all learners. Ultimately, Dr. Lee believes his work on self-concept inspires “healing through love and critical insight.”
Mary Roueche, Ed.D earned her B.A. in English Literature and Language from Winthrop University, an M.A.T. in Secondary English from Coastal Carolina University, and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina. She’s held a variety of leadership positions in her time as an educator. She worked in Charleston for 12 years where she was a high school English teacher and most recently served as an instructional coach and professional development coordinator. She currently teaches English in Rock Hill at South Pointe High School. Dr. Roueche believes that teaching and learning connects us as human beings. She is passionate about empowering students through dialogue, equitable practices, and social justice to create stronger communities. You don’t improve student opportunity and outcomes without supporting teachers. She is passionate about agency and equity for both educators and students. Empowered and supported teachers are better able to effectively teach our future leaders.
Antonio Scott is super excited to get to be apart of this. I'm from a small town called Westminster and graduated from West Oak High School in 2012. After that, I went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree from Anderson University in Elementary Education. While I was at Anderson University I had the pleasure of being a part of the phenomenal Call Me MiSTER program. A program that was created to increase African American teachers. After I graduated from Anderson University, I went on to Clemson University and got my Masters's degree in STEAM Education. I am currently pursuing my Educational Leadership degree from Clemson as well and hope to be a Principal in the near future. I'm in my 4th year of education teaching 5th grade, and I love what I do.
Fletcher Spigner is an Assistant Principal at AC Flora High School in Richland School District One. Prior to taking his current position at Flora, Mr. Spigner worked in Richland Two at both Ridge View and Blythewood High Schools where he held the positions of Science Teacher, Soccer Coach, Lead Teacher, and Student Activities Director. Mr. Spigner and his wife Michelle, who teaches Science at Spring Valley High School, are both graduates of South Carolina Public Schools, and they have three elementary-aged children who love school and their awesome teachers.
Kyle Brantley: Kyle Brantley - Senior at Blythewood High
Dr. Timothy Monreal: Dr. Timothy Monreal is an assistant professor of teacher education at California State University, Bakersfield. He earned his PhD in Foundations of Education at the University of South Carolina in 2020. Tim taught middle school for 11 years in California and South Carolina. His research interests broadly (Latinx) teacher identity and subjectivity, Latinx education, Latinx and Latinx education in the U.S. South, Social Studies teaching and curriculum (particularly Latinx history), and post-qualitative methodologies. He applies and develops post-structural, post-humanist, and (relational) spatial theories with these topics to open up new, more just, potentialities. In additional to many book chapters, Dr. Monreal's work has appeared in journals such as Latino Studies, Educational Policy, Urban Review, Journal of Latinos and Education, Current Issues in Comparative Education, and The Middle Grades Review. He was a Spencer Dissertation Fellow, a Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Fellow, and a current research fellow at The University of Santa Clara's Latinx Research Hub. During his time in South Carolina he was an SCforEd area representative.
Marlon Smith: Marlon Smith has been in education 15 years, with his last 4 years serving as the Assistant Principal at Saluda Trail STEAM Middle School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He holds a master’s degree in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of South Carolina-Aiken. In addition to serving as a Science teacher for 11 years, he has also served in the capacity of Assistant Administrator, Mentor, Department Chair, Basketball Coach, and Athletics Director. Mr. Smith has had the opportunity to be a part of both district and school level initiatives. Mr. Smith is quite excited to continue his next adventure in education - in service of the students, families, teachers, and staff at Saluda Trail Middle School for the 2020-21 school year! Marlon, his wife Bianca, and his two children Joshua and Makenna are happy to be members of The Wildcat family.
Daniel Stetson: Daniel Stetson is a fourth-year social studies teacher at Crayton Middle School in Columbia, SC. He received his MAT degree from the University of South Carolina after working in the nonprofit marketing field for eight years.
Antonio Scott: Antonio Scott, and I'm super excited I get to be apart of this. I'm from a small town called Westminster and graduated from West Oak High School in 2012. After that, I went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree from Anderson University in Elementary Education. While I was at Anderson University I had the pleasure of being a part of a phenomenal program Call Me MiSTER. A program that was created to increase African American teachers. After I graduated from Anderson University, I went on to Clemson University and got my Masters's degree in STEAM Education. I am currently pursuing my Educational Leadership degree from Clemson as well and hope to be a Principal in the near future. I'm in my 4th year of education teaching 5th grade, & I love what I do.
Adult Panelists:
Dottie Adams - Teacher in Richland County School District One
Sherry Blevins - Teacher in Richland School District Two
V Carr - Parent of the Fort Mill School District
Amanda Gardner - Teacher in Greenville County
Student Panelists:
Emilei Addington - Senior at Ridge View High
Kyle Brantley - Senior at Blythewood High
Ryder Curry - 4th Grader at Round Top
Katie George - Senior at South Pointe High
Luke Schrader - Student at Sanders, Montessori Middle Program
Jeremiah Sims - Junior at Spring Valley High
Panelists:
ANGELA ADAMS: Angela Adams currently works for a university-based program aimed at increasing teacher efficacy and teacher retention by meeting the evolving needs of new graduates through their first three years in their own classrooms. Angela taught middle school science (and a little social studies) for twenty years. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Clemson University, an M.Ed in Teacher Leadership from Southern Wesleyan University, and is National Board Certified (and re-certified) in Early Adolescence: Science. She is a former school-level and district teacher of the year, the wife of a public school teacher, a busy mom to two of her own public school students, and an advocate for teachers everywhere.
SAWYER ADAMS: Sawyer Adams (they/them) is an 18-year-old Junior at Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. Sawyer is majoring in Psychology with hopes of going abroad for a Ph.D. program after Fall '21. Sawyer loves writing new-adult fantasy books and is working on a series with a friend. It is Sawyer's hopes to be published one day. You can reach Sawyer by emailing at abivadamss@gmail.com or by following on Twitter: @uhmirdk
TADEAN PAGE: Tadean is a 2018 graduate of Winthrop University with a degree in Organizational Leadership and now works as the Public Outreach and Community Coordinator and Assistant for Student Leadership Development at the university. He is also a 2019 graduate of the Northeastern Graduate School of Education with a Masters of Education, focusing his research on social-emotional learning and the development of young males of color. He also runs his own organization, Motivating Males, and recently published his first book: Dear Black Boy.
KENDRA PENNINGTON: Kendra Pennington is an SC for Ed Horry County Area Rep and is in her 6th year of teaching in Myrtle Beach. Kenzie received both her Bachelor's and Masters from Winthrop University.
BENJAMIN RAFUSE: Originally from Maine, Benjamin Rafuse has been teaching for 21 years within the public and private school systems. After receiving his masters in Advanced Choral Conducting, he moved to the South to find more experiences and has had the pleasure of working with community children's choirs as well as local theatre troupes. Finally settling in Columbia with his husband, he hopes to begin the doctoral program at USC within the next year.
LAUREN TOLBERT: Lauren Tolbert is a native of Chattanooga, TN, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree at Claflin University in the discipline of African and African American Studies. Lauren identifies as a black queer woman whose pronouns are she/her and is active within multiple societies in her campus community. She is passionate about empowering and changing the lives of her people.
Panelists:
Ms. Jada Adams:
Jada Adams is a rising senior at Ridge View High School. She is currently the president of the Scholars Academy Magnet of Business and Law.
Ms. Vivian Anderson:
Vivian Anderson is the founder/Executive Director of EveryBlackGirl, Inc., started in 2015 after a white school resource officer in an SC high school assaulted a 15-year-old Black student. We're now a five-year-old healing justice organization that does a wide range of work, including supporting youth and families to achieve justice. Find more information on Facebook: Every Black Girl; IG: EveryBlackGirl; Twitter: @everyblkgirl
Mr. Lyman Dawkins:
Lyman Dawkins III serves as the assistant principal at Limestone-Central Elementary in the Cherokee County School District. Lyman is an elected councilman that serves on the Cherokee County Council that represents District 1. Mr. Dawkins is committed to servant leadership, equity, and devoted to inspiring the youth by making learning relevant by connecting education to student's daily experiences.
Mrs. Kristi Schrader:
Kristi Schrader was born and raised in SC and is a former teacher, mom to four public school children, and a product of Richland One schools. She is a local activist with several groups that work toward goals such as equity in education and accountability from our elected officials.
Ms. Lynette Smith:
Lynette Smith has taught public school in four states and The District of Columbia. During her 18 years of service, Ms. Smith has taught in traditional and alternative school settings. In addition, Ms. Smith taught for a year at a county prison.
Panelists:
Mr. Kyle Brantley: Student at Blythewood High School, SC for Ed Student Ambassador
Senator Mike Fanning: Former Social Studies Teacher, Senator for SC District 17
Dr. Amanda Gardner: 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher in Greenville
Dr. Kimberly P. Johnson: Author, Prof. of Diversity Studies & Creative Literature for Social Change
Mr. Morgan Lee: Education Consultant, Former Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal
Ms. Kendra Pennington: 8th Grade Special Education Teacher, Horry County SC for Ed Area Rep
Mr. Brandon Ross: Assistant Principal at Ridge View High School
Dr. Norris Williams: Director of Blue Eagle Academy