‘We have a need’: South Strand district hopes new program helps teacher shortage

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Georgetown County School District launched its brand New Teach to Teal program, aiming to help with the ongoing teacher shortage.

The district is partnering with Horry Georgetown Technical College and Coastal Carolina University to give students interested in teaching a chance to earn their degree in just three years and incentives if they decide to teach in Georgetown County.

High school students in the district can begin taking dual enrollment classes with HGTC starting their junior year.

After graduation, they can spend one year at HGTC getting their associate’s degree and finish up their last two years at CCU to receive their bachelor’s.

Students who enter the Teal to Teach program and are interested in teaching at GCSD will also be eligible to receive a scholarship.

On top of that, students who complete the program and choose to teach at GCSD will also receive partial loan forgiveness.

Superintendent Keith Price said it’s a great opportunity to fill spots with local talent.

“We have a need for teachers in our area,” Price said. “We have some phenomenal students in our schools right now that want to become teachers, so we want to go ahead and build that bridge now so we can bring them on home once they finish college.”

HGTC Teacher Education Department Chair Becky Hubbard said she knows firsthand the benefits of staying local and teaching in your own community.

“I graduated from Conway High School and went back to teach at Conway High School,” Hubbard said. " I still live in the community, so I interact with a lot of my former students almost daily. There’s a lot of rewards to living in your community and making those relationships. I highly encourage people to do that.”

The Teal to Teach Program starts this fall.

Copyright 2024 WMBF. All rights reserved.