Teacher Leadership Logo

Advancing the Teaching Profession in South Carolina

SC Teacher of the Year

Overview

The purpose of the South Carolina Teacher Forum is to give recognition to the state and district teachers of the year, to develop teacher leadership among this outstanding group, to give teachers a voice in educational issues that face teachers today at all levels and to impact the professional development of other teachers by encouraging its members to facilitate the development of leadership skills among their peers.

Under the leadership of Terry Dozier, 1985 South Carolina and National Teacher of the Year, the South Carolina Teacher Forum was established in 1986 by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement as part of its mission to improve teacher retention. It offers teachers across South Carolina the opportunity to participate in discussions on national, state, and local educational issues; and to dialogue with key leaders and policy makers about a variety of topics affecting the educational system.
The South Carolina Teacher Forum is an organization for the district teachers of the year to provide them with the opportunity to

  • participate in discussions on national, state, and local educational issues

  • dialogue with key leaders and policy makers about educational issues

  • give recognition to state and district teachers of the year

  • develop teacher leadership

  • provide teachers a voice in educational issues

  • impact the professional development of all teachers

Suzanne Koty

Suzanne Koty, Ph.D., NBCT

Contact Number: 803-464-0520

Email: suzanne@cerra.org

Carrie Simpson

Carrie Simpson, M.Ed., NBCT

Contact Number: 864-353-2122

Email: carrie.s@cerra.org

Jan Patterson

Jan Patterson

Contact Number: 803-323-4032 Ext. 6409

Email: pattersonj@cerra.org

Braden Wilson

Braden Wilson

2025 SC Teacher of the Year

Email: sctoy2025@cerra.org

Teacher Leadership Testimonials

Nequi Dunlap Pre-Kindergarten Teacher  / Chester County School District

"I was honored and fortunate to attend the SC Teacher Forum Conference in Myrtle Beach. Through conversations and discussions concerning leadership with fellow South Carolina District Teachers of the Year, I have defined leadership for my authentic self. 

2017 Chester County School District Teacher of the Year"

Nequi Dunlap

Pre-Kindergarten Teacher/Chester County School District

Pamela Flynn Social Studies Teacher & Chair / Spartanburg School District 3

"The SC Teacher Forum Conference, for me, was a time of connecting, learning, renewing, and making new friends! I was treated as a professional and realized we are all leaders in our own way."

Pamela Flynn

Social Studies Teacher & Chair/Spartanburg School District 3