08/14/2026
🎉🐦 CONGRATULATIONS, MS. TAMICKA WALKER! 🐦🎉
Gadsden Elementary School is celebrating Ms. Tamicka Walker, who has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Palmetto State Teachers Association (PSTA) Classroom Grant! 👏🏽📚
This grant will expand Ms. Walker’s already successful garden and chicken program by introducing ducks as an additional agricultural learning resource for our students. 🐔🦆🌱
This exciting expansion will create a comparative farm learning environment where students can explore and observe animal life cycles, habitats, behaviors, needs, and roles in sustainable agriculture. Students will also make meaningful connections across science, math, and literacy while strengthening their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. 🌱🔬📖➗
We are especially proud that Ms. Walker’s innovative idea was recognized through PSTA’s Reinvesting in Our Members Program. What a wonderful way to provide our students with hands-on learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom! 💙
A special shout-out to PSTA Director of Teacher Leadership Craig King for surprising Ms. Walker at school with the exciting news! 🎊
Congratulations, Ms. Walker! We are so proud of you and the amazing opportunities you continue to create for our Bluejays! 💙🐦
Richland County School District One teacher Tamicka Walker has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Palmetto State Teachers Association Classroom Grant. This is the fifth year of the PSTA Classroom Grants created as part of the Reinvesting in Our Members Program.
Ms. Walker is an elementary teacher at Gadsden Elementary School. This grant will expand the existing garden and chicken program by introducing ducks as an additional agricultural learning resource for students. This expansion will transform our current setup into a comparative farm learning environment. This environment will allow students to actively study multiple animal systems, observing differences in life cycles, habitats, behaviors, and roles in sustainable agriculture. According to Ms. Walker, “Through observation, students will investigate and compare chickens and ducks to understand animal needs, ecosystems, and agricultural roles. This project builds on an already successful program and will increase student engagement, critical thinking, and cross-curricular connections in science, math, and literacy.” PSTA Director of Teacher Leadership Craig King surprised Ms. Walker at her school with the exciting news that her grant was chosen as a winner!
