Help Us Strengthen College and Career Outcomes in Spartanburg

The Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM), a partnership of education, business, government, foundation, community, and faith leaders across Spartanburg County (SC), has launched a college attainment Steering Committee of two dozen of the county’s education leaders.

The committee seeks to advance Spartanburg’s economic vitality and overall quality of life by boosting college attainment rates, which for individuals influences higher incomes, better health outcomes, an active citizenry, increased tax revenues, and economic mobility.

Specifically, the committee is charged with guiding the development of a postsecondary education attainment action plan that builds on the OneSpartanburg Vision Plan 2.0 and energizes and engages diverse stakeholders and organizations. It has organized itself into the following four working groups:

• Community Engagement and Retreat Planning

  Ty Dawkins, Director at RD Anderson Applied Technology Center, and Dr. Boone Hopkins, President at Converse University (co-chairs)

• Data and Effectiveness

  Donette Stewart, Vice Chancellor at USC Upstate, and Beth Thompson, Data Manager at SAM (co-chairs)

• Scaling Effective Practice

  Dr. Michael Mikota, President at Spartanburg Community College, and Meghan Smith, Director - College & Career Readiness at SAM (co-chairs)

• Piloting New Solutions Working Group

  Scott Cochran, President at Spartanburg Methodist College, and Dr. Bennie Harris, Chancellor at USC Upstate (co-chairs)

As residents of Spartanburg County, the Steering Committee members believe we are a community of individuals whose success is interdependent. We are using an equity lens to drive our work and connecting with the people and organizations already dedicated to this work. 

We are lifting up the many promising practices already underway while identifying those gaps and problem areas that are hampering our goal of increasing degree attainment for our County. Our work starts by listening to our community members, reaching people where they are, and ensuring diverse voices and perspectives are embedded in our plan.

We want to hear from you!

Will you share your perspective on college degree attainment?  There are two ways to be involved:

1. Attend our virtual listening session on June 22 at 4:30 pm. We want to hear from you!
   

2. Provide (or encourage others to provide) a testimonial. Use your phone to write or record (audio or video) a 1-2 minute response that completes one of the following sentences:

• One thing that helped/would help me complete my degree is…

• Completing college is/was….

• When I think about encouraging more Spartanburg residents to attend college, I wonder…

• Other?

Submit your testimonial HERE or via QR Code below. Your testimonial will be shared with the SAM Steering Committee to inform a community action plan to increase college attainment.

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SAM has a decades-long history of working to drive high levels of academic success for all children and adults. 

Recent investments in SAM and the county’s education efforts mean there is now an opportunity to leverage existing work and accelerate the focus on postsecondary education attainment, building a pathway toward a more prosperous future, where all Spartanburg citizens can access college and meaningful careers by 2030. We welcome your engagement and feedback!Full membership of the Steering Committee:

• Nayef Samhat, President - Wofford College

• Tim Schmitz, Provost - Wofford College

• Boone Hopkins, President - Converse University

• Will Case, Associate Provost - Converse University

• Scott Cochran, President - Spartanburg Methodist College

• Ben Maxwell, VP for Enrollment - Spartanburg Methodist College

• Bennie Harris, Chancellor - USC Upstate

• Donette Stewart, Vice Chancellor - USC Upstate

• Michael Mikota, President - Spartanburg Community College

• Witney Fisher, Dean of Student Retention - Spartanburg Community College

• Tim Kowalski, Founding Dean - VCOM – Carolinas

• Matthew Cannon, Dean - Carolina’s Campus - VCOM-Carolinas

• Karen Canup, COO/CFO - Sherman College

• Kendra Strange, Associate VP - Sherman College

• Randall Gary, Superintendent - Spartanburg School District 5

• Jeff Stevens, Superintendent - Spartanburg School District 7

• Darryl Owings, Superintendent - Spartanburg School District 6

• Ty Dawkins, Director - RD Anderson Applied Technology Center

• Erin Black, Spartanburg County Adult Education - Spartanburg Districts 1-7

• Bill Brasington, Executive Director - Adult Learning Center, Inc.

• Allen Smith, President - OneSpartanburg, Inc.

• Russell Booker, Executive Director - Spartanburg Academic Movement

• Meghan Smith, Director College & Career Readiness - Spartanburg Academic Movement

• Beth Thompson, Data Manager - Spartanburg Academic Movement

Harlem Children’s Zone

Community leaders from the Highland and Northside communities joined Dr. Russell Booker and Dr. Jennifer Parker last month on a trip to the Big Apple to visit a pioneering organization achieving remarkable outcomes for children, families, and communities in Harlem. The Harlem Children’s Zone provides programming targeting education, youth, health, and community.

Why travel all the way to New York City to tour this center? What about this organization makes it worth replicating?

One word. Scale.

In 1970, HCZ looked different than it does today. HCZ started as Rheedlen Center for Children and Families, a truancy prevention program. Rheedlen grew to a beacon center and then converted an elementary school into the Countee Cullen Community Center. This community center, a one-block pilot program, offered programming and safety for children and families after school, on the weekends, and during the summer. Nine years later, HCZ launched their 10-year strategic plan and through intentional and systemic actions, HCZ grew from one block to 24 blocks to 60 blocks to its current 97 blocks. Whether trying to curb absenteeism or providing a safe haven for children, HCZ uses education as a tool for collective impact.

HCZ views intergenerational poverty through a systemic lens. Intergenerational poverty does not occur in a vacuum, so they examine interconnected systemic failures to determine practical solutions.

Harlem Children’s Zone has not only expanded their brick-and-mortar presence, but also their service offerings. What they refer to as “strategic relentlessness” looks like SAM’s initiatives: comprehensive, cradle-through-career, place-based programming which serves children, families, and communities. Geoffrey Canada, president and founder of HCZ, puts it this way:

“…the most powerful way to fight poverty is to make strategic investments that change the odds for low-income communities.”

SAM visited NYC to witness first-hand what can make the difference between a cycle of poverty and a cycle of achievement and how to recreate that impact in the Spartanburg community.

This trip was funded by the wonderful folks at Blue Meridian Partners – a group of results-oriented philanthropists seeking to transform the life trajectories of our nation’s young people and families in poverty by investing in strategies that work.

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A dynamic group of individuals from Spartanburg visited HCZ

• Dr. Russell Booker, Spartanburg Academic Movement Executive Director

• Dr. Jennifer Parker, SAM Center for Resilient Schools and Communities Director

• Shawna Bynum, Director of Franklin School

• Patrena Mims, Executive Director of Bethlehem Center, located in Highland community

• Tony Thomas, Northside Development Group Community Engagement Coordinator

• Lekesa Whitner, Northside Development Group Supportive Services Manager

• Wilma Moore, Highland Community Outreach Advocate

• Dr. Kathleen Brady, SAM Grant Consultant

• Marquice Clark, Principal of Cleveland Academy of Leadership

Marquice Clark, Principal, Cleveland Academy of Leadership shares about his own experience.

All of my life's experiences have been building blocks to construct my paradigm, my way of seeing and understanding the world.

In the beginning of my educational career, I was certain that we could change the outcomes for our students if we only taught a little bit harder and cared with a bit more passion and while I still believe an effective teacher is the change agent for improved outcomes, just 2 years as an administrator forced me to see that a larger scope of impact was needed to sustain students. For me, this was a near useless attempt. After years of begging parents to attend PTO meetings, offering food, and even hosting weekend events, I was sure that there was little hope. Moreover, I was growing weary of beating the drums of equity. It was beginning to feel like I was the villain or worst I was becoming ashamed to speak up for equitable solutions. 

On May 25, 2022, I packed my luggage and mental baggage filled with life experiences, weariness, shame, and exhaustion headed to New York City to learn the work of The Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ). Within the first hour of deboarding the plane, it was clear that HCZ was different -- very different. The more time I spent with the folks of HCZ, the harder it was for me to hold on to my old paradigm. I was experiencing a paradigm shift while battling the discomfort of a mental conflict that occurs when beliefs or assumptions are contradicted by new information -- cognitive dissonance. I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears what is possible for our children of Spartanburg, South Carolina and more locally at The Cleveland Academy of Leadership. 

The HCZ is a results-based organization that has created a culture of data minded servants who thrive in a data climate of evaluation, refinement, and reinforcement. No rock is left unturned.

They offer everything from parenting classes to FAFSA submission and even college counselors to support children through their collegiate career.  A true cradle-to-career pipeline with 100 percent of all high school seniors being admitted to a college or university. 

I left HCZ filled with hope, a vison, energy, and at peace with the work that was before me. I now know that this work in educational equity can be done, and I don't have to do it alone. 

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In the early years of planning the Northside Development Initiative, it became clear that rebranding and supporting the school in the heart of the neighborhood would be imperative to the overall health of the community. Mr. Clark has made significant social and academic strides at the school, and is an important voice as we determine next steps for academic, social and emotional supports for Northside families.

USC Upstate Promise Scholarship

The University of South Carolina Upstate has launched its Promise Scholarship Program providing up to 90 Spartanburg County high school graduates with a chance to earn their bachelor’s degree debt free.

This pilot program will cover the full cost of tuition for recipients during the four years they pursue their undergraduate degrees at the university. Students must maintain their LIFE Scholarships to remain eligible for the program.

USC Upstate’s announcement, along with similar, bold initiatives by Spartanburg Community College and Spartanburg Methodist College, remove college cost barriers, said Dr. Russell Booker, executive director of the Spartanburg Academic Movement.

“Removing cost barriers for college students allows us to further enhance Spartanburg’s economic vitality and overall quality of life by boosting college attainment rates,” Booker said.

The Promise Scholarship Program requires scholarship recipients to have graduated from one of the county’s nine public high schools. The current cost of tuition at USC Upstate is about $12,000 annually. Promise Scholars will receive their funds after all other scholarships and grants have been applied to their tuition. The university will encourage candidates not to take out any student loans.

“We are so excited about this opportunity, which demonstrates USC Upstate’s commitment to postsecondary attainment in Spartanburg County and reducing student debt throughout our region and state,” said USC Upstate Chancellor Dr. Bennie Harris. “Our objective is simple: help the county retain its most talented individuals by encouraging them to learn, then eventually live and work in this community.”

Spartanburg Community College, in partnership with OneSpartanburg, Inc., announced free tuition as part of the Bringing Back the Burg Business Recovery Task Force to make tuition free for all students in 2021-22.

Since, SCC President Dr. Michael Mikota has announced the initiative would continue through 2022 and 23 as the college continues its focus on retaining current students and re-engaging those who delayed educational plans due to the pandemic and financial barriers.

SCC has realized increased enrollment as 6,097 students, a record high for the school, were enrolled in 2021. While the SC technical college system saw a decline in enrollment from 2019 to 2021, SCC enjoyed a 32 percent increase. Mikota points to an enrollment increase among the minority population with a 55 percent increase among African American males, 44 percent increase in Hispanic or Latino students and 10 percent increase in Asian students. Also, the school saw a 66% enrollment increase in students 24 or older.

Spartanburg Methodist College, another landmark higher education institution, also offers free tuition for students who qualify for the life scholarship. Students qualify if they have a 3.0 grade point average or higher, be a South Carolina resident, complete the federal application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and enroll in one of SMC’s programs.

Spartanburg Methodist College offers an associate degree and concentration/specialization and bachelor’s degree so graduates will leave college with two degrees and career development course training. According to SMC President Dr. Scott Cochran, a college degree increases a student’s earning power significantly over his working years. SMC provides the complete college experience without breaking the bank and in addition, SMC offers personal and academic support for all students.

Summer Opportunities for Teens

Summer break provides children and youth with a bit of respite from the routine of the school day and time to spend with family and friends, but quality summer programming also allows youth to find their spark.

Think of your most favorite summer camp and I’m sure you’re able to recall a new skill, a new sport or new area you were able to explore.

For Urban League of the Upstate CEO Dr. Gail Wilson Awan, it was a science camp that so ignited her spark that she can still identify multiple species of snakes.

Dr. Awan shared her summer camp memory during the recent Coffee and Conversations sponsored by United Way of the Piedmont and led by Savannah Ray, who serves UWP and SAM, Meghan Smith, SAM’s director of college and career readiness, Spartanburg Science Center Executive Director, Mary Levens and City of Spartanburg’s Director of Parks and Recreation, Kim Moultrie.

“If a child doesn’t do anything in the summer, they tend to lose skills,” Levens said. “Summer is a time when we look for the sparks. We look for the aha moments. At the Spartanburg Science Center, we have an animal care camp that books up really fast where children can take home animals and keep them for a week and for many, it’s the first time they have made the connection between animals and science.”

The COVID pandemic highlighted that learning takes place outside of the school buildings, and taking advantage of summer months is critical, Smith said.

SAM’s Out-of-School Time Collaborative has partnered with summer programming organizations to offer scholarships for those who wouldn’t be able to otherwise experience the magic of summer camps. SAM’s Summer Shakedown offers scholarships for middle and high schoolers with a limit of application per student and priority for those who receive free or reduced lunch.

There are plenty of offerings for those interested in sports, music, SAT and ACT boot camps, a youth empowerment leadership camp, the city’s SAIYL youth leadership camp, art classes and more.

“What many parents and guardians don’t realize is that network is so important, so building relationships with camp leaders and community leaders is so important,” Levens said. “Participating in a summer camp is a great opportunity for middle and high schoolers to make those connections.”

Learn more about summer camps and scholarships at www.connectspartanburg.org/summer-shakedown-2022.