TalentRiseSC:
Tech-to-Teach Scholars Program
TECH-TO-TEACH
Building South Carolina’s Future Teachers
Start Where You Are. Teach Where You’re Needed.
TalentRiseSC Tech-to-Teach Scholars Program is an innovative education workforce development and apprenticeship initiative of the South Carolina Technical College System Foundation, the Greenville County Chamber Foundation, and Seven Innovative Technical Colleges across South Carolina. Designed to address the growing teacher shortage across South Carolina—especially in rural communities—Tech-to-Teach helps aspiring educators begin their journey at a technical college and continue to earn a bachelor’s degree in education.
Program Goals
TalentRiseSC Tech-to-Teach Scholar Program helps build the educator pipeline by:
Recruiting future teachers—especially from rural areas—into Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Care & Education programs.
Increasing the number of AAS graduates who become teacher assistants and move on to complete a bachelor’s in education.
Creating seamless transfer pathways to 4-year colleges and universities through partnership agreements.
Offering affordable, flexible education options (online, hybrid, or in-person) that can be completed in about 1.5 years.
Supporting paid apprenticeships through partnerships with local school districts.
Aligning field placements and long-term employment opportunities with community school systems.
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Enroll in the AAS in Early Care and Education program at one of the participating technical colleges.
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Learn and Earn through classroom study and potential apprenticeship opportunities.
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Transfer to a 4-year institution to complete your bachelor’s degree.
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Teach in your local community and make a difference where you're needed most.
Participating
Colleges
The following colleges are active partners in are leading the way:
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Central Carolina Technical College
Together, these seven colleges enrolled over 400 students in Early Care and Education programs in Fall 2023 alone.
Career
Outcomes
Graduates of the Tech-to-Teach program will be prepared to:
Serve as early childhood educators and teacher assistants.
Transition into fully certified teachers after earning their bachelor’s degree.
Begin long-term careers in public schools, especially in high-need rural areas.
Mission
The South Carolina Technical College System Foundation proudly supports the South Carolina Technical College System. The Foundation is dedicated to enhancing economic development and workforce empowerment within the state through impactful programming designed to ignite economic growth and empower our state’s growing workforce.
Vision
By creating impactful programs that are easy to access and more affordable, the Foundation partners with the System, and each of its colleges, to expand workforce development opportunities for residents in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The Foundation also helps connect employers with fresh and effective ways to develop workers for high-demand, skilled jobs in our ever-changing economy.