USCB Partners in Hosting African American Historic Sites Professional Learning Opportunity for SC Teachers
For a week in June, elementary, middle and high school teachers from across South Carolina climbed historic wooden steps, peeked into halls built in the 1800s, and visited the graves of African-American heroes from the Civil War and Reconstruction Era.
The teachers’ adventure in learning was thanks to the Institute for the Study of the Reconstruction Era (ISRE) at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and The South Carolina Council for African American Studies (SCCAAS). These entities joined forces to offer a unique professional learning opportunity for South Carolina educators. Entitled "Sins of Omission: Beaufort, South Carolina, Civil War and Reconstruction," this program focused on the history of the Beaufort region from 1861-1900.
The program was funded by a $75,000 grant for African American instructional materials from the South Carolina Department of Education.
The South Carolina Council for African American Studies (SCCAAS) is a professional organization dedicated to African American history and instruction. It aims to integrate African American history seamlessly into the broader tapestry of American history. By fostering networks among South Carolina educators and parents, SCCAAS seeks to share best practices and current trends in teaching African American history and culture.
Dr. Valinda Littlefield, interim director of the Institute for the Study of the Reconstruction Era, and SCCAAS President, Dr. Larry Watson, led the group and worked hard to present tools and knowledge needed to help the teachers develop impactful lessons that will resonate with their students. Other SCCAAS members served as curricula and technical experts while USCB and USC Columbia provided staff and graduate support. The ultimate goal is to empower educators to unlock the transformative power of African American history and inspire their students to engage critically with the past, promoting a deeper understanding of our shared heritage.
Participants attended a lecture at Historic Mitchellville on Hilton Head Island.Kathryn Sullivan, an 8th grade History teacher at Charleston County School of the Arts said, “We went to First African Baptist Church and I have goosebumps just thinking about it. The Port Royal Experiment was an incredible example of what could have been. My students know Charleston‘s Reconstruction history but they don’t know the rest of the state’s. I can’t wait to share all this with them!”
The retreat began in Beaufort on Sunday, June 4 with teachers checking in at the USCB Beaufort residence halls for their stay. Coordinators grouped the participants by their teaching grade level, hoping to further promote collaboration for lesson plan writing while at the Institute. The group included 18 South Carolina teachers and one representative of the National Park Service.
Tracy Kennedy, an 8th-grade Social Studies teacher at McCracken Middle School in Spartanburg, left the Institute feeling refreshed. “The information I take back will empower my students and give them an understanding of their importance and value as members of society and the school,” she said.
Teachers visiting Tabernacle Baptist Church, the location of Robert Smalls' grave. Anfernee Hodges, who teaches African American Studies at Ridgeview High School teacher in Columbia, was energized by what he learned. “I am excited to go back and revamp all my lessons to include all this. Robert Smalls was the only historical figure from this area I was familiar with. There is so much more,” he said.
Learn more about the Institute for the Study of the Reconstruction Era