Converse University Awarded Prestigious Center of Excellence in Teacher Leadership

Spartanburg, SC

Pioneering a progressive approach to teacher leadership and community advancement, Converse University has been awarded a three-year grant by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. This funding will support the inception of the university’s Center of Excellence in Teacher Leadership (CCETL), marking Converse as the inaugural private institution in the state to be awarded a second Center of Excellence.

Expanding Educational Opportunities for Teachers in South Carolina

The Converse Center of Excellence in Teacher Leadership targets to serve primarily rural and underserved counties and school districts in the state. Through this initiative, in-service classroom teachers will have the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and consequently optimize student outcomes.

The university’s Department of Education and Leadership plan to collaborate with the seven Spartanburg County school districts and Union County in implementing this project. Participating school districts will identify teachers for the program. Throughout the three-year lifespan of this initiative, the university aims to certify 66 new building administrators and offer professional development to 132 teacher-leaders who choose to continue their classroom roles.

The University’s Offerings

Teachers participating in the program will enroll in either Converse’s Administrators Academy or one of the university’s leadership certificate programs. The Administrators Academy will equip teachers with the necessary skills to become building administrators, on completion of which they will receive their principal certification. The university will also provide a Community Advocacy Leadership certificate or a Leadership for Classroom Teachers certificate for teachers who wish to grow as leaders while still serving in the classroom. All participants will undergo four graduate-level courses for recertification, which will be provided at no cost. Upon completing the program, participants will have the choice to pursue additional coursework to earn a master’s degree.

A Journey to Excellence

In 2020, Converse University was awarded its first Center of Excellence by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The Center of Excellence in Rural Talent Development collaborated with local rural districts to train teachers in pedagogy for gifted and talented students. It also facilitated Converse’s Athena summer camp for gifted and talented elementary school students. The Centers of Excellence program is a competitive grant venture aimed at augmenting teacher quality and student accomplishments in South Carolina.

About Converse University

Converse University, founded in 1889 in Spartanburg, SC, empowers students to become transformative leaders with clarity of vision, wise decision-making, and a drive for justice. The university offers a myriad of programs through its School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Data Science, School of the Arts, The Graduate School, and the Converse College for Women. With its focus on deep scholarship, transformative mentorship, and experiential learning, Converse is a beacon of opportunity for its students.