November 3, 2020
If we were to survey educators around the country to ask them about their why, the reason they decided to become a teacher, the greater majority might respond somewhere along the lines of, I want to make a difference in the lives of children through teaching. While that is often the reason many educators begin their careers, the road traveled is not easy. Often teachers run joyfully into this work with a spirit of immense possibility that is soon met by a polar opposite reality and feelings of burnout. In fact, at the end of the 2017-18 school year, one in four South Carolina first year teachers left the classroom. With national data on teacher retention showing that approximately eight percent of teachers leave their school and the same percentage leave the profession each year (NCES, 2019), many districts are fighting to determine why teachers are leaving the classroom at such a rapid rate. The reasons do not seem to be changing, so maybe the better approach is determining what actually keeps educators in the classroom. Recently we tapped into the experiences of veteran educator Lynn Sawyer to hear her story and what has brought her to Meeting Street Schools this year after 25 years in the classroom.
Lynn is a South Carolina native, and by her own account grew up in a volatile home where education was not a priority. “I went to school if I wanted to (which I did) and didn’t go if I didn’t want to.” Lynn remembers missing school often due to illness and shared the difference maker for her was her teachers. “I had wonderful teachers that loved me as their own and showed great compassion for me. I remember teachers letting me stay at school with them on workdays, when I would show up for school but shouldn’t have. I remember teachers showing up to visit me in the hospital when I was sick. These teachers loved me unconditionally. They helped me believe in myself because they believed in me. It is because of their love and support that I became a first generation high school graduate and decided to attend college.”
At Meeting Street Schools we know that teachers make the difference. The love and support from teachers is what guided Lynn through high school and then on to Charleston Southern University (Baptist College at the time), where she studied for three years before transferring to Columbia College. Lynn student-taught in Lexington 1 and was hired to teach upon graduation. She went on to teach there for the next 16 years. Ms. Sawyer has always known that she wanted to be a teacher. “I loved my teachers, and I wanted to have the same impact on students that my teachers had on me.” After nearly three decades of teaching, Lynn has run into a lot of the challenges, including working with teachers that don’t believe in kids, or that have low expectations for students. Thankfully Lynn’s passion for teaching led her to explore other opportunities in education that connected to her belief that all children can learn. “I believe kids can and will achieve anything we ask them to do if we support them and they know we believe in them.”
“Moving to Meeting Street Schools has been one of the greatest things I have done for my career. I am so excited to continue to learn and grow my brain with this organization. I am looking forward to many great years with Meeting Street Schools.”
I believe that school is a safe haven for many students. These students love to come to school and they want to please those around them. They may have obstacles that stand in the way, but a great teacher will be able to identify the obstacles and work around them or even tear/break the obstacles down. My philosophy is that by focusing on relationships, relevance and rigor, students will be able to soar to new heights in their personal and professional careers.
The enthusiasm that radiated from every person I came in contact with in Meeting Street Schools is what drew me to here. After the career fair for Charleston County, I decided to start researching to learn more. I visited the different schools’ websites and watched the videos that were posted there. Everything I saw looked like children were loved and having fun. Then when I got to actually talk with Meeting Street staff, I was amazed at the excitement that I heard in their voices and saw in their faces. The passion that I have for teaching children and having fun while doing it was right in front of me. I knew it was the place I wanted to be.
Meeting Street Schools has blown me away! The excitement and passion that I observed from the beginning is real. It is everyday life. Family and team are more than words. They are actions, and I see it put into practice everyday.
Change is very scary. I get it. If someone is looking for a change but is afraid to take that first step, I would encourage them to start with looking at the Meeting Street School website. Look at the pictures of smiles on teachers’ and students’ faces. Find a place you are interested in and then make a phone call. Talk to someone at the school, and I believe you will hear something that is different. You will hear the passion and excitement that is probably the reason you decided to go into education in the first place. If I had known way back in 1994 what I have learned from Meeting Street Schools so far in my time here, I would have been an even better and more effective teacher.
You have to be here to try it and live it to believe it. I wondered if the excitement would continue or if it was a “hiring ploy”. It has continued. Even on hard days, you can see the passion on the faces of everyone. We all have the same goal and that is to grow the brains of our students so they can be successful both now and in the future.
In my first 90 days as a teacher at Meeting Street Schools, I have learned that it is ok to “do too much”. Doing too much is more than ok. It is an (unspoken) requirement if we are going to meet the needs of our students and help them become all they can be. Doing too much means planning and practicing. It means being vulnerable. It means sweating the small stuff. Everything matters. Nothing is too small to overlook when it comes to our students. They matter and we matter to them.
I have learned a lot about myself since joining Meeting Street Schools. I still have a lot to learn, and I am never too old to learn! You can teach an old dog new tricks. Teaching is still fun. I have also learned that it is ok to admit when you don’t know something and that asking for help is ok.
Honestly, I feel like I am in my first year of teaching again. I am working just as hard or maybe even harder than I did 25 years ago. Planning is not enough. Practice has to be part of the plan if we are to be successful. I think of it like a sporting team. The coach doesn’t make all the plans and then put players on the field in the game. They plan, players practice that plan (a lot) and then they play the game. As a teacher, I must plan, practice my plan and then put it in place in the classroom. I don’t know that I have ever actually practiced teaching a lesson prior to this year. I find myself asking why. It doesn’t even make sense not to now–if I plan to win.
I have so much support from everyone at Meeting Street Schools. The cohort I was hired with has been supportive. I love those people. We were digging deep together. My leadership team has been amazing, and I cannot say enough good things about Tara Warrington (Director of Curriculum and Instruction). She is truly an angel. She pushes me in ways that I have never been pushed because she believes in this work. She has been supportive of me in the classroom-even while coaching in the moment. She is positive and patient. She is kind and she is not afraid to get in the trenches with me to make a difference in the lives of our children. I think that is one of the main reasons I am enjoying this work-even when it seems overwhelming and is exhausting. My leadership team is not sitting in an office somewhere barking out orders or coaching from the sidelines. They are working just as hard-and in many cases-probably harder to make sure we are successful for our students. I love working with/for someone that isn’t afraid to work alongside me.
Being in-person and watching the excitement in-person has been my favorite memory so far. These kids amaze me! They are proud of who they are and that makes me smile. They are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone and speak up for themselves. They are not afraid to lead. They love unconditionally. The smiles on their faces makes all the difference for me.
The biggest impact I hope to make on my students this year is to show them that they matter and that I love them. I want this year to be the very best year of their life. I want to make memories with them that they will carry for a lifetime. I want to instill confidence in them-so much so that they believe they can accomplish anything they set their mind to.
My success will be measured by the relationships I build with my students and their families. Students will be successful once they gain the confidence and belief that they can achieve and that they do matter. When I see a confident student willing to take a leap of faith-even when it is scary, I will know that I have achieved my goal.
Moving to Meeting Street Schools has been one of the greatest things I have done for my career. I am so excited to continue to learn and grow my brain with this organization. I am looking forward to many great years with Meeting Street Schools.
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Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg is as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. The Academy is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Meeting Street – Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this neighborhood Public School of Innovation is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, Meeting Street – Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Meeting Street – Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the Meeting Street Schools network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, Meeting Street – Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at Meeting Street – Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. The school exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, Meeting Street – Burns is forging a new path in public education.
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
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