Lowcountry Educator Alternative Pathway (LEAP)

During your first year within the LEAP program, you will be supported as you grow and develop professionally as an educator. You will work with your support team to receive information about being a professional educator.

During year two, you will deepen your understanding of assessments and educational psychology. This will help you ensure that your students understand the content you are teaching them.

During year three, you will demonstrate your knowledge of best teaching practices as you complete the South Carolina Teaching Standards evaluation and the PRAXIS Principles of Learning and Teaching exam.

We offer multiple opportunities for you to be immersed in all aspects of the profession to build competency and cultivate a passion for teaching. Our program consists of pre-service modules that lay a strong foundation for what and how to teach. We provide four full-day seminars during the year which are specifically designed to support your needs across content and specialty areas. You will conduct two peer observations and receive weekly support from the building and district mentors to encourage your professional growth and longevity.

We are committed to preparing you to teach students with a wide range of backgrounds, abilities, and learning needs through a personalized approach to education.

Our modules are designed to: 

• Help you explore school report cards to understand the students at each school. 
• Teach you how to provide effective differentiation to meet varied learning needs.

Our seminars are tailored to show you:

• How to identify individual learning styles.
• Understand the importance of culturally responsive practices.
• How to implement flexible approaches to accommodate students’ varying levels of readiness.

Our program offers ongoing mentorship to ensure that you receive personalized support. District mentors provide overarching guidance, drawing on their expertise to help you navigate your professional growth and obligations. Building mentors offer on-the-ground support, assisting you with day-to-day challenges. School leaders provide targeted training designed to equip you with the specific skills and strategies needed to excel. These varied levels of support help to empower you and positively impact student success.

We prioritize your continued professional development through collaborative seminars and professional learning communities. Training is based on the most up-to-date research and best practices, to ensure that you remain at the forefront of effective teaching practices. We partner with community stakeholders to empower you to refine your instructional practices. By fostering a culture of lifelong learning, we hope to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to the ever-evolving world of education.