American Education Week - Educator Appreciation Day
American Education Week Information
- Ninety-eight percent of our teachers are highly qualified content experts.
- GCS boasts more National Board Certified Teachers (631) than 25 states, and we rank 13th of the nation’s 14,000 school districts for total number of NBCTs.
As part of American Education Week, today we honor the certified educators serving Greenville County Schools. Certified educators include classroom teachers, guidance counselors, media specialists, assistant principals, and principals. They come to school with a loving, caring attitude and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. They inspire and engage students in the classroom. They are accessible, enthusiastic, and responsive.
Dr. Cindy Alsip, assistant principal at J. L. Mann High Academy, knows the importance of great teachers. She listens carefully, asks insightful questions, and responds immediately to each issue she faces. She empowers teachers and staff by encouraging them to be part of the decision-making process.
“Assistant principals are the ones on the ground, in the classroom, working hard to make sure classroom instruction can take place,” she explained. “That means we are working with teachers, offering professional development, disciplining students, and meeting with parents. We coordinate the school’s efforts so that it all comes together.”
Dr. Alsip taught business and computer lab at J.L. Mann before she became an administrator, so she understands the important role of the classroom teacher. “It takes a lot of people to get a student through high school and out the door with that diploma. It starts with the teachers in the classroom, who are working with the parents,” she said.
Assistant principals are heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of their school. They log many hours outside of the school day as they attend athletic events, dances, after-school clubs, field trips, and parent conferences.
“The most rewarding part is when it all comes together and the student feels successful,” she explained. “One of my greatest honors is to call out students’ names at the graduation ceremony. I get the privilege of being there at the end and seeing them finish.”
It takes everyone working together, at school and across the district, to achieve success. “We all pull together for the same goal. What I do here does make a difference for the entire district because of the teachers. When we work together, we form that ring around each and every student that walks through the door and support them all along the way,” said Alsip.
Congratulations to the teachers and other certified staff who contribute to the success of Greenville County Schools’ more than 71,000 young people!