Teaching the teachers
Mary “Katie” Wood-Ray, Southern Wesleyan University graduate, speaks to a group of teachers at Ravenel Elementary School, in Seneca on March 17. Wood-Ray is a renowned writer and speaker on writing instruction. She leads numerous workshops and conferences across the country, focusing on writing education. A $25,000 grant from Wachovia ($5,000 over five years) was awarded to SWU’s Center for Teaching Excellence in the College of Education and made it possible for Ravenel Elementary to host Wood-Ray. This was the first year of the five that the grant will be awarded to The Center for Teaching Excellence.
Dr. Fred Woodworth, Southern Wesleyan University’s dean of the School of Education, and Dr. Ray Locy, associate dean, will be working with Oconee and Pickens county teachers and superintendents to provide training opportunities that will help community districts retain excellent teachers, encourage teachers to bring new ideas to the classroom and help teachers to continue refining their teaching strategies.