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Working on our future in SC: An Update

Dear friends and family:

I am so excited to be writing you with this long overdue update.  Fair warning—it also includes a request for your help, but I promise it is made with great joy and hope! 

As you know, just about two years ago, I moved home to South Carolina.  Shortly thereafter, I became the head of South Carolina Future Minds (SCFM), a small statewide nonprofit working in public education.  SCFM was not new, but I certainly was.  New back to South Carolina; new to the field of public education; new, of course, to the organization and all of its stakeholders.  To put it mildly: I had a lot to learn.  

Thus began my re-education at home.  In the past 18 months, I have driven nearly 40,000 miles, criss-crossing the state that raised me.  I have met with hundreds of educators, witnessing their daily heroism in our classrooms.  I’ve spoken with parents who want the best for their children, but too often can’t see a path to achieving it.  I’ve listened to principals and superintendents who have dedicated their careers to the idea of public education as the great equalizer in a fractured society.  I’ve met with students.  Oh, the students!  Their dreams are my fuel.  

But here’s the thing: we’ve got work to do.  In 2016, only 14% of South Carolina’s public high school graduates were prepared for college-level courses.  Let’s set aside, for the moment, the moral conundrum of this reality for our children.  In a state that prides itself on being pro-business, this statistic alone is alarming.  How do we keep South Carolina afloat, much less thriving, without investing in our students and teachers—our human capital? 

We can do better, friends. 

The good news is that there is hope.  You won’t find it in the aggregate data of student outcomes or teacher retention.  But you will find it in every classroom, because where there is a teacher, there is hope; and where there is a child, there is hope. Sunshiny bright, heart-lifting, drum major-for-justice kind of hope.  

That’s why we’re building SC Future Minds into a world-class organization for public education in South Carolina.  We’re working with every school district in the state to acknowledge and celebrate our teacher leaders.  We’re sending funds to under-resourced schools for student literacy and achievement.  And, we’re rallying businesses and civic organizations to invest in public education as a driver of economic growth.    
You’re receiving this letter because you already believe in this vision, and, for that, I thank you. I’d also like to humbly and gratefully ask for your help:
  • If you would like to get involved in or know more about Future Minds’ work, please do not hesitate to reply to this email—there is so much more to share.  Also, it would be wonderful to know about your latest and greatest!
  • Feel free to forward this note to friends—I’d love to set up a time to talk shop with you or anyone in your network.  
  • Please consider including Future Minds in your monthly or annual giving.  We are a small organization with big ambitions, and your contribution—at any level—will help us, and the students we serve, achieve those big dreams that we all know are possible.  
My best to you and yours as we enter the holiday season, and always. For those of you across the country (and the world), please let me know if your travels ever bring you to Charleston! 

Much love, 
Caroline

P.S. We want to make it easy for you to support public education in ways big and small: You can submit a tribute to your favorite teacher on our website, and we'll let them know. Support us through AmazonSmile, and a portion of your holiday shopping will go towards our programs.  Also, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for daily inspiration from our #teacherhero profiles and other SCFM news.  We're fired up about supporting public education and excited for you to join us! 

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