About ProTeam
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ProTeam Instructor Training Information
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” Jack Welch, former GE Chairman and CEO
The Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) offers a middle school program known as ProTeam to help grow middle level students into leaders while helping them learn more about themselves as learners and setting goals for their future. The ProTeam Program aims to interest middle school students in the education profession before they become "turned off" to the possibility of a career in teaching. The ProTeam Program offers a unique experience for students and allows them to spend time in the field observing and learning about the art of teaching.
ProTeam provides a semester or year-long hands-on course filled with student-driven activities and unique learning opportunities. This program can be considered the beginning course in the education and training career cluster model. CERRA provides a curriculum to ProTeam instructors that places an emphasis on character development, career readiness skills, and an exploration of teaching and education professions. The 9th edition of the ProTeam DreamQuest Curriculum was launched in the summer 2024 and is being implemented across the state this school year.
Pro Team is currently offered at 52 sites across the state. Many of the sites offer multiple sections of the course and each year we are growing. We at CERRA realize that not all students who go through the program will initially be interested in a career in education. However, through our curriculum and the authentic learning experiences, we hope that students will realize they could share their passion for music, arts, theater, dance, technology, business, agriculture, or psychology by becoming teachers in these fields. The South Carolina Department of Education released the Critical Needs Subject Areas for the 2024-2025 school year and many of the arts programs are included on this list. Students who major in these areas may enroll in the South Carolina Teacher Loan program and will qualify for loan forgiveness upon graduation and working in these fields.
ProTeam is sure to help both 7th and 8th grade students prepare for their future and become goal-driven as they head off to high school. We at CERRA will provide support and training as you begin your ProTeam Journey. Our goal is to help you build a successful program in your district. Our Program Director and Facilitators will be available firsthand to provide support, visit your school, and collaborate with you each year. We hope that you will consider adopting this program in your district and play a role in growing future educators and leaders in our state.
For more information, please reach out to our Pre-Collegiate Program Director, Meredith Dantzler. You may reach Meredith by email dantzlerm@cerra.org or by phone at 864-209-9045.