The Winthrop University Council of Student Leaders approved the chartering of a university chapter for the South Carolina Education Association, a nonprofit education advocacy organization aimed at supporting education majors.
The new Winthrop chapter will be titled “Aspiring Educators,” and it aims to unite teacher candidates to learn more about the teaching career as well as offer programs and benefits to members, according to faculty advisor and associate professor of social studies education Margaret Gillikin.
“The SCEA offers members support and relationships with other teachers, opportunities to advocate for change in schools, and professional liability insurance of $3 million for each member. This latter benefit covers work-related issues and access to attorneys to handle those issues at no cost,” Gillikin said.
“We will offer programming about issues related to teaching and collaborate with teacher candidates on other college campuses. Possible programs might be on working with parents, improving teaching skills, or becoming informed about legislation that impacts schools, teachers, and students.”
Winthrop sophomore and middle level education major Amber Downs advocated for the SCEA and answered questions from the CSL prior to the charter’s unanimous approval. Downs said that the group plans to eventually cooperate with fellow WU pro-education organizations such as the National Educational Association and other groups to provide aid to a wider range of student educators.
“I’m so thankful to the CSL and them giving us the opportunity to start this organization,” Downs said. “I’m so excited for the future and networking and working together to advocate for South Carolina college educators.”
Downs said the organization will have its first meeting on March 3, and will be held in person as well as on Zoom. The membership is free to teacher ed candidates, according to Gillikin.
“I believe all teachers and teacher candidates should join a professional organization like this one,” Gillikin said. “As Sherry East, the South Carolina President of the SCEA, stated, ‘Doctors would never practice medicine without liability insurance.’ Teachers should not enter the classroom without protections. In addition, we can accomplish so much more together than any one of us can accomplish alone. Joining together, we can work to make positive changes for students and families in our communities.”
