College of Education wraps fifth ‘Listen and Learn’ tour

The College of Education recently visited select schools across the South Carolina lowcountry and met with current and potential educational partners on its fifth Listen and Learn tour.

The group was comprised of College leadership, faculty and staff. According to Jeff Marshall, interim dean of the College of Education, the tours are designed so that participants learn of the successes and innovative approaches undertaken by urban and rural schools in the state so that they can better understand the challenges facing education in the state.

During this year’s trip, dubbed “Listen, Learn and Act,” the general goals of the trip remained unchanged, but there was a renewed focus on exploring partnerships in both research and service between the College of Education and those educators and leaders encountered along the way.

The tour began in Dorchester School Districts 2, where faculty and staff met with Superintendent Shane Robbins and numerous district representatives. The group then visited with North Charleston High School Principal Dr. Henry Darby and his staff to discuss the incredible gains his school has made over the past couple of years.

Day two of Listen, Learn and Act was equally eye-opening for participants. They spent the morning with the Principal Chad Weiden and the faculty and staff of Meeting Street Elementary @ Burns, where the College group learned about the school’s innovative approaches to student learning. The group finished out the day at C.E. Williams Middle School (South Campus), where they heard from Principal Kevin Smith, who is also a current graduate student in Clemson’s Ed.D. in Education Systems Improvement Science.

The final day of the trip consisted of a visit to Branchville High School in Orangeburg County School District, where the group heard from Superintendent Shawn Foster and Principal Charles Gregory about the concept of learning loss due to COVID-19 and how the school strives to make students both college and career ready.