Under the leadership of Mrs. Jessica F. Williams, the Colleton County School District began the 2023-2024 school year by assisting students in developing the World Class Skills of the Profile of a South Carolina graduate. The district continued to focus on strengthening Tier 1 instruction and providing support for student and staff social emotional needs. A curriculum based on the Science of Reading continued to be utilized at the elementary level. Teachers at all levels; early childhood, elementary, middle and secondary, engaged in Professional Learning Communities that focused on collaborative planning, data analysis, professional learning and the Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Instructional expectations were clearly defined and communicated with high quality standards- based instruction delivered in all classrooms as the ultimate goal.
Leadership development was a major focus for school level administrators. An example of this opportunity was the monthly training with Curriculum Associates Principal Academy focused on student intervention and acceleration. School leadership teams participated in learning opportunities focused on the inclusion model. Professional Development for certified staff was provided in literacy and math at all levels with literacy strategies integrated into the science and social studies content. An example was early childhood and elementary staff completed LETRS training. Trauma informed professional development was offered to certified and classified staff to assist in understanding the varied needs of our students. Social emotional learning was a non-negotiable in all schools with a clearly defined time built within the daily schedule for academic and behavioral interventions. The district invested in the knowledge and expertise of a Social Worker, Safety and Security Officer as well as a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Coordinator.
The Colleton County School District continues to seek out innovative and effective ways to provide excellent educational opportunities and services to our students, their families, and our community at large. In order to accomplish this goal, CCSD has partnered with numerous local, regional and national organizations to bring new services to our community. Each of the partnerships addresses an educational need of our students, or a professional need for our staff, including STEM-based learning skills, fine arts, literacy and social emotional well-being. The partnerships include but are not limited to ED Farm, ArtsNow, Colleton Regional Hospital, Behavioral Alliance of South Carolina, MUSC Wellness Initiative, Technical College of the Lowcountry, and First Lego League Robotics.
We have strengthened the knowledge of our leaders, teachers, and staff to increase the quality of instructional delivery to impact student outcomes. Through the continued use of partnerships and implemented strategies, the district will continue to focus on student learning to ensure the development of the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina graduate.
