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BCSD Teacher Forum

Connect. Share. Grow.

BCSD Teacher Forum—a collaborative professional learning community where educators connect, share ideas, support one another, and grow together.

Three women stand in front of a Barnwell County School District banner, with an American flag to the left and a screen to the right.
A woman presents to a group of teachers seated at a long table in a classroom, with a %22Start With Why%22 presentation displayed on a large screen in the background.
A woman gestures while speaking to a group of people seated at a conference table, with a large screen displaying a mountain landscape in the background.
A group of women in the foreground are holding small boxes, while the background features framed pictures on a wall.

What Is Teacher Forum?

The early successes of the South Carolina Teacher Forum led to the formation of local District Teacher Forums, which have applied techniques and structures learned at South Carolina Teacher Forum meetings to district or county education issues and policies. District Teacher Forums are voluntary, non-partisan groups of exemplary teachers, whose core membership is made up of School Teachers of the Year, joined together to develop new skills, exercising leadership and self-direction, and exploring collaboratively education policy issues. The forum operates as a cohort, a group that meets multiple times during the year with a shared purpose of learning and serving. The District Teacher Forum aims to develop teacher leadership. The organizational structure of each District Teacher Forum may vary slightly based on the needs and preferences of the teachers who comprise it. However, each Forum agrees to continue the positive and professional spirit of the State Teacher Forum.

Teacher Forum provides a welcoming space for educators to:

  • Exchange ideas and effective teaching practices

  • Discuss successes, questions, and challenges

  • Learn from colleagues across the district

  • Strengthen instruction and student support

  • Build meaningful professional connections

Barnwell County School District Teacher Forum

The Barnwell County School District Teacher Forum was successfully established last year, during which time the bylaws and policies were reviewed and revised. The forum hosted a kickoff meeting featuring a keynote speaker from Hampton County School District, our neighboring district. The keynote speaker, Ms. Jennifer Nelson, is the South Carolina Teacher Honor Roll for 2025-26.

Jennifer Nelson, a 2026 South Carolina Honor Roll Teacher and instructional coach at Hampton County High School, was invited to serve as a guest speaker at Barnwell County School District's Teacher Forum. During the session, she facilitated a workshop focused on empowering educators to recognize their potential as teacher leaders and leverage those leadership skills to positively influence their classrooms and communities. We are happy to hear from Mrs. Nelson and are proud of her accomplishments!

Throughout the school year, the Teacher Forum convened multiple times and successfully hosted Jeansgiving fundraisers. The proceeds from these fundraisers were used to provide scholarships to three graduating seniors from each high school (Barnwell High School, Williston-Elko High School, and Blackville-Hilda High School) who are pursuing careers in education.

Dr. Supreethi, Chairperson of the Barnwell County School District Teacher Forum 2026-27, stated, "I am excited to welcome new exemplary teachers to the Teacher Forum. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all teachers and staff members who shared their thoughts through the survey distributed during our BCSD kickoff meeting. Together, we can learn from one another and help create a stronger experience for every educator and student."