Dorchester Two Educational Foundation

It was a terrific Tuesday getting to attend the ribbon cutting at the Sawmill site of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. We appreciate their thoughtful support of our Dorchester School District Two students in having their photos displayed throughout the hospital.

Today, In a panel of superintendents representing all four Lowcountry school districts, “Mr. Daugherty said DD2 gives grace and space to the educators to help our students realize their individual potential.” It was an enlightening morning at the Tri-County STEMersion session listening to each leader share their ideas and intentionality for giving all of the students in our area the experiences and opportunities that will make them career ready. They talked about backward planning, accountability, collaboration, and modeling expectations that left the attendees feeling inspired about the years ahead.

Thanks to the incredible support of The Boeing Company Boeing South Carolina, innovation is taking flight in DD2 classrooms! ✈️💙

Each Spring, the Innovation Grants fueled by Boeing provide opportunities for educators to bring creative and impactful ideas to life for their students. This year, 10 deserving DD2 educators were awarded $2,000 grants after submitting applications that were reviewed by an external committee.

Last week, our Foundation team had the joy of surprising several of these amazing teachers with their “big checks” right in front of their students! Seeing the excitement and pure joy on students’ faces as they celebrated their teachers was so special.

These grants are more than funding; they are opportunities for hands-on learning, creativity, and unforgettable classroom experiences made possible because teachers were willing to do the “homework” to dream big for their students.

Congratulations to this year’s Innovation Grant recipients, and thank you to Boeing for investing in the future of DD2 students and educators! ✨

As the final school bell rings and another incredible year comes to a close, we are filled with gratitude for the students, educators, staff, families, and community members who made this school year so meaningful. From classroom victories to Friday night lights, performances, competitions, celebrations, and everyday moments of growth, this year was full of memories that will last a lifetime. 💙

To the Class of 2026 from Ashley Ridge High School, Fort Dorchester High School - Official Site, and Summerville High School — congratulations! 🎓

Your hard work, resilience, leadership, and spirit have made your schools and community proud. No matter where your next chapter leads, we know you will continue to do amazing things.

Wishing all of our students, teachers, and families a safe, joyful, and well-deserved summer break. ☀️ See you next school year!

We are so proud of our 2026 Teacher of the Year, Kimberly Bender at RISE Academy, for leading an incredible literacy initiative to break the school-to-prison pipeline. If you have ever spoken to her, you immediately feel the passion she has to see her students succeed while also bringing positive outcomes to the community. 💙

At the Dorchester Two Educational Foundation, we believe in empowering educators who go above and beyond for students every single day. Mrs. Bender is a shining example of that mission in action. The students in the RISE Readers program visited Alston-Bailey Elementary and local senior living centers as well.

If you would like to support this initiative and help continue creating opportunities for our students, you can donate here: https://dd2foundation.charityproud.org/Donate/?cid=28562

Join us in cheering her on and showing what Team Dorchester can do when we rally together! ✨

Innovation was on full display at Gregg Middle School Mustangs during their STEM Day last month! 💡⚙️🚀

Thanks to the EmpowerED Grant awarded last fall through the Horace Mann Educators Foundation, students had the opportunity to bring their creativity to life using Gregg’s new 3D printer. Students designed items using computer software and watched as their creations were printed right before their eyes!

Colby Rankin from the local Horace Mann agency joined Ralph and Kim to see the printer in action and experience the excitement happening throughout the Media Center.

Students also explored hands-on STEM stations where they built VEX Robotics vehicles, constructed bridges, tested straw rockets, experimented with cotton-ball catapults, and more.

We love seeing grant funding turn into real-world opportunities that inspire curiosity, creativity, and future innovators right here in Dorchester Two! 💙