School of Education
Welcome from the Dean
As interim dean of the School of Education at the University of South Carolina Upstate, I welcome your interest in teaching as a career. My career in education began over thirty years ago as a ninth grade English teacher. Teaching is what I always wanted to do. Despite the ostensibly helpful advice I received from others to consider other career options, I never waivered in my commitment to teaching and I have never regretted my decision. It has always been clear to me that the future of our nation is shaped by public school teachers. The experiences students have under the guidance of a skilled teacher provide them with the vital information and hone the necessary skills and dispositions needed for productive community involvement and participation in our democracy.
The mission of the School of Education is to prepare teachers for this exacting challenge. We offer high quality, comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs for the preparation of teachers and the development of school leaders.
Our teacher preparation programs have been recognized as among the strongest in the nation. They are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the South Carolina Department of Education. Accreditation and program approval provide the following assurances to the public: 1. USC Upstate teacher preparation programs meet national standards of quality and excellence; 2. our programs insure that children and young adults are served by well-prepared teachers; and 3. our programs advance the teaching profession through assessment and continuous improvement initiatives.
A distinguishing feature of the School of Education is that we constantly challenge teacher candidates to reconcile educational theory and classroom-based practice and to understand and master the content knowledge, interpersonal skills, and analytical skills necessary to be effective teachers and school leaders. Accordingly, our teacher preparation programs include a range of diverse field-based clinical experiences in public schools and other educational agencies.
The teacher preparation programs at USC Upstate are rigorous, as they should be. Teaching is important work, requiring deep knowledge, sharpened skills, and an appropriate frame of mind to do well. Rest assured that all of us at USC Upstate are ready to help you achieve your career goals.
Welcome to campus and welcome to the School of Education!
Jim Charles, Ph.D.
Interim Dean
Professor of English Education