Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention & Advancement

08/29/2026

What has CERRA been up to this week?

Here’s a look at our top pictures from the week. Top Left: Dr. Suzanne Koty shared information w...

07/24/2026

Pack Your TeachSC Teacher Backpack

The start of a new school year is the perfect time to take the first step toward becoming a teacher....

07/22/2026

Exciting things are ahead for CERRA!

After forty years of advancing education in South Carolina, we continue to expand our reach. Gro...

07/14/2026

M&I Virtual Support Sessions

07/14/2026

Mentoring & Induction Virtual Sessions

CERRA brings the Mentoring and Induction Virtual Support Sessions directly to you. Watch the infom...

06/04/2026

Richland School District One celebrated its Teacher Cadets with an end-of-year breakfast honoring their achievements and future aspirations. The program was thoughtfully planned and executed by Teacher Cadet Liaison, Mrs. Anita Stroman.

Each cadet was recognized for their dedication and received a certificate, a trophy, and a graduation cord. In addition, instructors selected an Outstanding Cadet of the Year, and each honoree was presented with a plaque in recognition of their excellence.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Briana Livingston, a former cadet of Mrs. Stroman and a South Carolina Teaching Fellow. She offered inspiring words of encouragement, motivating students as they prepare to pursue their future goals.

School board members, principals, and parents were also in attendance to celebrate the cadets’ accomplishments. The program concluded with a special recognition ceremony, during which sixteen cadets committed to the field of education and were honored by the district’s Human Resources Department.

This is an example of how CERRA programs are preparing the next generation of educators.

05/29/2026

Madelyn Smith (Buford HS), Zia Apalisok (Sumter HS), and Trey Sellers (Chesterfield HS) were recently awarded both the Teaching Fellows and the Sallie S Ortmann Aspiring Educator Scholarship, given by the family of Sallie Ortmann and PSTA. Sallie Ortmann was a USC Teaching Fellow and a passionate, dedicated, and innovative educator. Her family continues to honor her legacy by presenting scholarships to those entering the profession. What a great honor to receive both of these awards. The future of education in SC is bright!

05/22/2026

Each member of the CERRA team works hard every day to advance our mission and support educators across South Carolina. “We Are CERRA” reflects the collaboration, dedication, and commitment that drive the work we do together.

This year, three members of our team were recognized for going above and beyond in service to the agency and the educators we support.

Meredith Dantzler received the Leadership in Action Award for her outstanding leadership within CERRA and across the state.

Tisha Simmons was honored with the Innovator of the Year Award for her work in technology innovation and her efforts to ensure CERRA’s messaging and resources remain accessible to all.

Jason Bojko received the Team Player Award for his dedication to supporting teams across the agency and his willingness to assist wherever needed.

While these individuals were recognized this year, every member of the CERRA team plays an important role in making an impact on education throughout South Carolina. We are proud to celebrate the commitment, teamwork, and passion that make CERRA strong.

05/15/2026

Brookland-Cayce High School held its first Educator Signing Day for four amazing Teacher Cadets who plan to pursue a career in education. To top things off, all four of these students will also be a part of the 2026 cohort of Teaching Fellows. Hats off to Teacher Cadet instructor Terry Boone for putting on a wonderful program. The event was especially meaningful to him because his daughter was among the four students honored.

05/14/2026

Please join us for “Celebrations & Reflections” on May 20 from 4:00–5:00 PM as we host our final Mentoring and Induction Virtual Support Session of the 2025–2026 school year!

As we conclude a very successful first year, we sincerely thank everyone who participated in and supported the program. We look forward to new adventures and continued growth when sessions resume in August for the 2026–2027 school year!

Use the following link to register: https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/zditdk00srjlnw/