SC State inducts five graduates into teaching profession

“If the children know that you’re committed, they will be committed as well” — newly inducted physical education teacher Clifton Tew-Holman.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. _— Support from faculty members like Dr. Janice B. Owens and Dr. Reginald Williams made all the difference for recent South Carolina State University graduate Avianna Means as she earned her degree in early childhood education.

“I’ve had a very fulfilling time. I didn’t always think that I would make It to this point, but it's from the love of Dr. Owens and great professors like Dr. Williams,” Means said.

SC State’s College of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences held its Fall 2024 Educator Induction Ceremony at the campus Fine Arts Building on Dec. 9, welcoming five SC State graduates into the teaching profession. The induction marked the scholars’ completion of their clinical education experiences in local schools ahead of the university’s Fall 2024 Commencement on Dec. 12.

The inductees and their degrees were:

• Shakeisha Harris, Master of Arts in Teaching, early childhood.
• Avianna Means and Shaunta Murphy, early childhood education.
• Clifton Tew-Holman, physical education.
• Nicole Simon, special education-LD.

“My experience here at SC State has been on another level, even though I transferred from Coastal Carolina University here and have only been here (SC State) for 17 months. Meeting new people and being in a different environment, it has been life-changing,” Tew-Holman said. “I’ve always wanted to work with kids, but I wanted to be a coach first. So, I fell in love with P.E. class.”

Tew-Holman said commitment and time management are principles that will guide his teaching philosophy.

“If the children know that you’re committed, they will be committed as well,” he said. “It's best to find new ways to get involved and build relationships with kids. If you don’t build relationships with kids, they will not respect or respond to you well.”

Owens, professor and director of SC State’s clinical education program, presided over the ceremony, and Dr. George Johnson, SC State Department of Education chair, administered the Educator’s Oath to the five inductees.

The ceremony’s guest speaker was SC State alumnus Dr. Kelvin Lemon, principal of Manning High School in Clarendon County School District 2. Dr. Sarah Washington-Favors offered a tribute to the inductees. Music was provided by music industry student Nicholas Reese accompanied by Dr. Rosetta Dingle, professor of music education.

For more information about SC State’s education programs and other fields of study, visit www.scsu.edu/academics/.