September 15, 2021, Barnett Berry
Since COVID-19, some parents in search of educational alternatives for their children have turned to microschools. Barnett Berry, a research professor in the College of Education, explains for The Conversation what makes microschools distinct from other schools.
August 26, 2021, Megan Sexton
Few professions changed as abruptly in response to the pandemic as teaching. Amy Carter is South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year for 2022 and one of 10 Gamecocks Carolinian magazine spoke to about how the pandemic has changed the way we work.
August 23, 2021, Savannah Bennett
Marjorie Weber was a widow in her 40s when she decided to return to college to earn her teaching degree from the University of South Carolina where her late husband had been an education professor. She also served as a starting point for a string of family members attending South Carolina, including a granddaughter and two great-granddaughters, who are current education students. They are among the hundreds of students who follow family members to become Gamecocks each year.
August 18, 2021, Jessie D. Guest
Children, like adults, are feeling the stress of the uncertain times during a global pandemic. Playing has cognitive and emotional benefits for kids and can help them decompress and express themselves. In The Conversation, education professor Jessie Guest offers tips for connecting with children through play.
August 12, 2021, Cam Adams
The University of South Carolina is expanding its degree offerings with 13 new programs set to launch this fall that will better prepare students for careers in cybersecurity, education, nursing, business and music among other fields.
August 09, 2021, Carol J.G. Ward
The University of South Carolina is now home to a permanent exhibition and educational program in partnership with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, becoming one of only four partner sites in the world and the only one in North America.
June 16, 2021, Craig Brandhorst
Literacy is as much a reflection of a student’s cultural experience as it is a measure of what they have learned in school. As education professor Eliza Braden explains, “Students come into our classrooms as literate individuals in different ways. We want to honor those literacies.”
May 18, 2021, Carol J.G. Ward
Amy Carter and Christina Melton both had teachers who inspired them to choose education as a profession. Both are graduates of the University of South Carolina. Both have spent their careers in Palmetto State public schools. And now both have been recognized as the state’s best in their profession.
April 29, 2021, Abe Danaher
Thomas E. Hodges has been named interim dean of the University of South Carolina College of Education; he begins on July 1. Hodges succeeds Jon Pedersen, who served as dean of the college since 2016 and recently accepted a deanship at Oklahoma State University’s College of Education and Human Sciences.
April 07, 2021, Carol J.G. Ward
Most of Barnett Berry’s career has been about advancing what he calls the profession that makes all other professions possible – teaching. As a scholar and researcher, he is an advocate for teachers and how they can and must be more instrumental in the future of education. Berry is the 2021 recipient of the James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teaching.
March 22, 2021, Carol J.G. Ward
For three and a half decades, University of South Carolina education professor Gloria Boutte has dedicated her work to creating school experiences that are more equitable for students of color. Her scholarship, teaching, leadership and service have been recognized with the 2021 Legacy Award from American Educational Research Association.
March 08, 2021, Chris Horn
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in 1954 that racial segregation of school children was unconstitutional. When South Carolina's segregationist governor spoke out against that ruling, the School of Education dean at the University of South Carolina courageously spoke up. The dean kept his integrity — but not his job.
March 04, 2021, Chris Horn
The steady rise in podcast popularity has produced a bountiful crop of shows for listeners worldwide — 1.75 million and counting — including a growing list of podcasts produced by University of South Carolina faculty, staff and students.
March 03, 2021, Megan Sexton
Beth White, the undergraduate program coordinator and a clinical instructor of elementary education, offers insight into what we've learned about remote and hybrid learning.
January 31, 2021, Christian Anderson
The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol represented an event unlike any other in American history. But how will it be portrayed in history textbooks used in America’s K-12 schools and colleges?
January 27, 2021, Chris Horn
He was the University of South Carolina's first Black professor and the first Black graduate of Harvard College. But Richard T. Greener's accomplishments in the years after the Civil War far exceeded those "firsts." No wonder there's a statue in his likeness on campus.
January 26, 2021, Tenell Felder
The University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing ranks No. 1 among all U.S. universities for its online graduate nursing program, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual online rankings.
January 11, 2021, Megan Sexton
An endowed chair in the School of Information Science, an associate professor of higher education who directs the university’s Museum of Education, and a Gamecock football player who proclaimed “’Matter’ is the Minimum” during last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests are the university’s 2021 Social Justice Awards winners.
January 04, 2021, Carol J.G. Ward
"Ready, Set — Kindergarten!" is a six-booklet resource for parents to support their child's development and school preparedness with activities they can do at home. The series was developed by the Carolina Family Engagement Center.
December 19, 2020
It’s been a year — but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty to celebrate, recognize and honor at the University of South Carolina in 2020. UofSC rose to each and every challenge this year and raised the bar for the year to come.
December 01, 2020, Chris Horn
In the midst of her practice teaching experience, December graduate Akiko Colbert realized she wanted to work alongside students as a guidance counselor. “Middle school is tough ... I want to give them perspective and let them know that everything they learn in middle school will set them up for the rest of their life," she says.
November 19, 2020, Allen Wallace
The University of South Carolina’s sport science programs are ranked No. 1 in the United States for the fourth consecutive year in the Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.
November 05, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
In a Q&A originally published in Breakthrough magazine, Greg Trevors, an assistant professor of educational psychology and research at the College of Education, discusses his research on belief correction as it relates to COVID-19. Trevors helped develop an online game to help people correct misconceptions about COVID-19.
November 04, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
Sharon Lee White finished her bachelor’s degree 21 years after she started, then thanks to a UofSC program that she now leads, she continued through to earn her doctorate.
November 03, 2020, Page Ivey
Growing up in Indian Land, South Carolina, Dawson Tate’s vision of college came mostly from what he saw in the movies. But during his time in the Opportunity Scholars Program at South Carolina, Tate has decided he likes what he sees and wants to continue his education through the doctorate level so he can return to his hometown and become a teacher and principal.
October 07, 2020, James Kirylo
While online education is not new, its mass proliferation amid the pandemic is, and it’s radically changing the face of education. In The Conversation,College of Education professor James Kirylo writes about why we should consider what the late Brazilian educational philosopher Paulo Freire would have thought about the global normalization of virtual learning.
September 15, 2020, Craig Brandhorst
Students with intellectual disabilities face an array of challenges as they navigate their way through high school and transition to adulthood. Anthony Plotner, an assistant professor of special education in the College of Education, is working to ease that transition in practice and research.
August 18, 2020, Christian Anderson
This is a time when there is an intensified movement – particularly at America’s colleges and universities – to remove statues and names from buildings or organizations that pay homage to Confederate leaders and others with racist views. In The Conversation, education professor Christian Anderson examines the question of what – if anything – should be put up in their place.
August 17, 2020, Carol J.G. Ward
A summer camp for fifth- and sixth grade-students in South Carolina’s Gullah/Geechee community will introduce Gullah/Geechee students to STEM content from their own community and provide opportunities to interact with professionals who look like them, working in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
July 30, 2020, Page Ivey
Lydia Carnesale knew just where to start to help members of her tight-knit Latino community in northeast Columbia when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The education Ph.D. candidate had worked five years earlier to help the same community during Columbia’s thousand-year flood event.
July 17, 2020, Megan Sexton
Sarah Schumacher Gams, who earned her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of South Carolina, is the 2021 South Carolina teacher of the year.
June 30, 2020, Christian Anderson
John C. Calhoun’s legacy until now has been quite prominent in American society – and not just in the South, but Calhoun’s days as a revered icon in the public sphere are gradually coming to an end. Education professor Christian Anderson addresses the issue of Calhoun’s legacy in The Conversation as we are in the midst of a nationwide reappraisal of our past that also affects UofSC.
June 05, 2020, Collin Webster
Kids who are more physically active tend to get better grades and develop the self-confidence that can empower them to succeed later in life. Physical education professor Collin Webster writes for The Conversation that the arrival of summer vacation might allay concerns parents have about their children being too sedentary. However, researchers think a lack of structured summertime activities can cause kids to make unhealthy choices.
May 18, 2020, Page Ivey
Kassandra Gove, ’09 higher education administration, was elected the fifth mayor of her hometown of Amesbury — population 17,000 — about 40 miles north of Boston on the coast of Massachusetts. Her tenure during the COVID-19 pandemic has been anything but typical.
May 12, 2020, James Kirylo
Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Education Department is letting states cancel standardized tests. As a result, 2020 is the first year without federally mandated standardized testing in nearly two decades. Education professor James Kirylo writes in The Conversation that school systems can take advantage of this remarkable time to seek alternatives to standardized tests.
May 05, 2020, Jon Pedersen
COVID-19 has forced the closure of schools nationwide – in some cases for the rest of the school year. Jon Pedersen, dean of the College of Education, discusses what the school shutdowns could mean for the traditional summer break.
May 04, 2020, Carol J.G. Ward
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-8, 2020. Faculty at the University of South Carolina are available to discuss a variety of topics related to education and the impact of COVID-19.
April 23, 2020, Jon Pedersen
Most of the school systems that shut their doors due to the COVID-19 outbreak initially said these closures would be temporary. But health authorities warn that Americans may need to keep up their social distancing for months. Jon Pedersen, dean of the University of South Carolina College of Education, answers some key questions about how this unprecedented situation might affect the education of millions of children.
March 25, 2020, Megan Sexton
Beth White, the undergraduate program coordinator and a clinical instructor of elementary education, offers advice for students, parents and teachers in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
March 18, 2020, Carol J.G. Ward
The University of South Carolina’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs has compiled a list of faculty experts who can discuss topics relevant to the coronavirus pandemic.
March 05, 2020, Megan Sexton
While artificial intelligence research and programs are growing around the country, the University of South Carolina’s AI Institute is among the first in the Southeast to include diverse colleges and departments.
February 11, 2020
Students who are taught by more than one teacher in the same classroom benefit from their exposure to different teaching styles, additional expertise and lower student-teacher ratios. But the first step is making sure the partners click, like education professors Bridget Miller and Cathy Brant.
January 30, 2020, Kathryn McPhail
Later this month, a new center called Bilingualism Matters at UofSC is opening under the direction of education professor Eurydice Bauer. The center is partnering with two Midlands area school districts to research how multilingual education benefits students and how schools can implement education programs.
January 16, 2020, Page Ivey
Students who are taught by more than one teacher in the same classroom benefit from the differing teaching styles, added expertise and lower student-teacher ratios. But the first step is making sure the partners click, like education professor Christine Lotter and biology professor Bert Ely.
January 14, 2020, Tenell Felder & Amanda Hernandez
The University of South Carolina ranks No. 1 in the nation among public universities (No. 2 overall) for its online graduate nursing program, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual online rankings.
January 14, 2020, Kathryn McPhail
More than 5,300 teachers left South Carolina public schools at the end of the 2018-19 school year. That seems like a staggering number, but it’s not an anomaly. It puts students at risk of missing out on the quality instruction they need and deserve, and the University of South Carolina’s College of Education is stepping in to help with a new initiative aimed at recruiting and retaining teachers.
January 09, 2020, Page Ivey
A community organizer and equity scholar, a three-degree alumna, an education student leader and a professor with a strong record of mentoring younger colleagues are the recipients of the University of South Carolina’s 2020 Social Justice Awards and will be honored at the annual MLK Commemorative Breakfast Jan. 17 in the Russell House Ballroom.
December 02, 2019, Communications and Public Affairs staff
There was plenty to be proud of at the University of South Carolina in 2019, with accomplishments from the classroom to the research lab to the athletic field.
November 11, 2019, Megan Sexton
School librarian Kathy Carroll likes to be in the middle of the action and that’s where she finds herself every day, whether it’s helping students at Westwood High School in Blythewood or advocating for her profession as president-elect of the American Association of School Librarians.
November 07, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
In the 21 years that she’s been a school counselor, Elizabeth Balthazor has worked with children whose emotional – and sometimes physical – wounds run deep. Two-thirds of children report at least one traumatic event by 16 years old, and one in seven children are abused. Before she can help, Balthazor must figure out what’s wrong and that can be hard with children who don’t fully know how to verbalize their trauma.
November 05, 2019
Attending college is a transformative experience, offering students the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and experiences that lead them to a fuller life. We spoke to first-generation college students, faculty and alumni to learn about their experiences on campus and beyond.
November 01, 2019, Megan Sexton
When Bridget Miller was in graduate school working on her master’s in special education, a mentor opened her eyes to science education. Now she’s doing the same with students in her College of Education classrooms.
October 24, 2019, Megan Sexton
Chelsea Stinnett is an assistant research professor in the department of educational studies and is the new director of CarolinaLIFE, an inclusive certificate college program for students with diverse learning needs, such as intellectual disability.
October 14, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
After winning state championships in high school, Kaden Briggs was excited to earn a spot on the University of South Carolina’s track and field team. But he was shocked when he faced an unexpected hurdle – some skepticism about his chosen career path.
September 25, 2019, Annika Dahlgren
Family Weekend is part of the university’s wide-ranging commitment to delivering a superior student experience in a welcoming, inclusive environment. It helps to connect a student’s personal support network to the university experience, so that family members can feel engaged in a student’s journey — and a student can feel a deep level of support both on- and off-campus.
September 09, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
For most students, the path to law school doesn’t include a stop in a fourth grade classroom. Well, at least not as the teacher of the class. But law student Brandon Adams says his experience as a teacher will help him become a better attorney, and he plans to combine his love of teaching and the law.
August 23, 2019, Craig Brandhorst
When Meir Muller calls teaching a “life and death occupation,” the University of South Carolina assistant professor of early childhood education isn’t being dramatic. He’s merely underscoring the fundamental importance of good teachers — and of equity in the classroom.
August 22, 2019, Page Ivey
Four University of South Carolina projects to improve the health and well-being of South Carolinians are getting a boost from $2.4 million in grants from the Duke Endowment.
August 13, 2019, Chris Horn
From humble beginnings, University of South Carolina alumnus Richard Sorin and his son, Bert, have turned Sorinex into one of the nation’s premier strength equipment manufacturers, with clients spanning professional sports and universities from every major athletics conference.
August 08, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
The Accelerator for Learning and Leadership for South Carolina (ALL4SC) is an outreach project that will bring together researchers and professionals from 12 academic and professional units at the university to create a strategy to close achievement and opportunity gaps for all students
August 05, 2019, Craig Brandhorst and Megan Sexton
You don’t need a degree from the University of South Carolina to get elected mayor in the Palmetto State, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. This summer, Carolinian magazine traveled the state, from the Lowcountry to the Upstate, from the Midlands to the Pee Dee, interviewing South Carolina alumni who hold the esteemed office.
July 29, 2019, Caleigh McDaniel
Jay Pou is the recipient of the 2019 M. Stuart Hunter Award for his exceptional teaching skills as a University 101 instructor. His ability to connect with his students and his multimedia approach to teaching helped him gain this recognition.
July 16, 2019, Josh German
Six rising juniors have been chosen as 2019 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholars. The program exposes students to the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
June 06, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
Education alumna, Chanda Jefferson, was recently named the 2020 South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Her passion for serving others began when she drove the church van as a teenager. Now a decade into her career as an educator, she finds herself teaching much more than biology to her students.
May 29, 2019, Chris Horn
A new Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of South Carolina will launch this summer, building on and harnessing the collective efforts of dozens of faculty members who already are advancing AI research initiatives in diverse academic disciplines.
May 24, 2019, Megan Sexton
Ali Brian’s physical education research thus far makes two things clear — most children, with and without disabilities, are delayed in developing their gross motor skills, and those skills can dramatically improve with just a small dose of intervention.
May 16, 2019, Page Ivey
On May 1, an estimated 10,000 South Carolina teachers and public education supporters rallied at the Statehouse in an event that showed teachers have been pushed to their limits and are willing to take their fight over working conditions to state lawmakers, says College of Education professor and researcher Jon Hale.
May 13, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
Jackson Creek Elementary School, in Columbia, is committed to improving the way its teachers are educating students — both academically and socially. The school is collaborating with College of Education professors to offer all teachers and support staff ongoing professional development in culturally relevant teaching.
April 11, 2019, Diane Parham
Another successful Give 4 Garnet closed at midnight Wednesday, with 6,576 donors making $4,028,859 in gifts during the University of South Carolina’s second annual giving day.
April 05, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
Efforts to recruit and retain teachers in South Carolina go beyond the four years students spend on campus. For College of Education alumna LeAnn Haga, a high school outreach program inspired her to pursue a teaching career, a scholarship allowed her to earn a degree debt-free and now, her alma mater continues to support her in her first year as a teacher.
April 05, 2019, Mia Grimm
Stuck on what to do with your class schedule for next semester? We've compiled a list of cool, unconventional classes in every college.
April 02, 2019, Jeff Stensland
Eight new research and outreach projects have been selected for funding as a part of the Excellence Initiative, a competitive grant program launched by the Board of Trustees last year to identify and fund proposals with the potential to be transformative and have a lasting impact on the university.
March 12, 2019, Craig Brandhorst
On the second-to-last Thursday of each month, at Columbia’s War Mouth restaurant and bar, the Carolina Archive of Storytelling hosts an open mic event where amateur storytellers share personal narratives with nothing to lean on but a microphone, their memory and the vocal support of a standing room-only crowd.
February 28, 2019, Allen Wallace
A year ago, University of South Carolina Dance Marathon made history, raising more than a million dollars for the kids at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital (then known as Palmetto Health). Just days after that success, they began working to do it again. That yearlong effort concludes Saturday with the student organization’s annual Main Event.
February 18, 2019, Carol Ward
Noella “Binda” Niati has always been fascinated by the collision of hip-hop/rap, engagement and social change. As a doctoral candidate in the Educational Foundations and Inquiry program of the USC College of Education, she’s turned her attention to harnessing the power of hip hop in transforming education and citizen engagement.
February 18, 2019, Julie Turner
Noella “Binda” Niati has always been fascinated by the collision of hip-hop/rap, engagement and social change. As a doctoral candidate in the Educational Foundations and Inquiry program of the College of Education, she’s turned her attention to harnessing the power of hip-hop in transforming education and citizen engagement.
February 08, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
Former Gamecocks football player Preston Thorne is back on campus, but now he’s tackling the teacher shortage instead of opponents. Since graduating 15 year ago, Thorne has taught history, coached high school football and even co-authored a children's book. Now, he's helping the College of Education recruit more students to the teaching profession.
January 29, 2019, Amanda Hernandez
Provost Joan Gabel has named Claudia Benitez-Nelson and Hans-Conrad zur Loye from the College of Arts and Sciences, and Gloria Boutte from the College of Education, as this year’s recipients of the Carolina Distinguished Professorship.
January 22, 2019, Megan Sexton
Criminal justice research spans multiple programs and colleges at the University of South Carolina. And the work is taking place a few miles from campus and a world away in Uganda.
January 14, 2019, Kathryn McPhail
When Michelle Taylor walked across the stage at December’s commencement ceremony to accept her master’s degree, she culminated a journey of more than 7,300 miles and three countries. And though she didn’t step foot on campus during her two years in the Master of Education in Teaching program, she felt strongly about attending graduation.
January 11, 2019, Chris Horn
A University of South Carolina faculty member, staff member and two students who exemplify Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to service, equality and social justice will be honored at the university’s annual MLK Commemorative Breakfast Jan. 18.
January 04, 2019, Craig Brandhorst
USC Times had lunch with the university's vice president for finance, the director of the Center for the Education and Equity of African American Students and a graphic design professor to talk about the value of a well balanced college education.
December 05, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
This month, Wendy Harriford Platt — a veteran teacher, mother, and daughter of a Carolina icon — will walk across the commencement stage to accept her doctorate degree in education with no regrets. Well, maybe just one regret — that her father will not be there to celebrate with her.
December 01, 2018
When Beth White is in the classroom, the teaching hat never comes off. One minute she’s instructing her undergraduate education students about the finer points of literacy methods and reading assessment and in the next she’s guiding a room full of elementary students through a reading and writing exercise.
November 09, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
The College of Education was awarded its largest grant in nearly 20 years to fund a statewide program to better engage families in South Carolina’s public schools.
October 26, 2018, Page Ivey
Matt Schreiber didn’t come to Carolina expecting to become a private wealth manager. In fact, his degrees, a bachelor’s in history (’03) and a master’s in teaching (’04) are more often associated with less financially lucrative careers. But the 2018 Distinguished Young Alumnus puts his two degrees to work every day, using historic trends to map investment strategy and helping educate his clients on how best to navigate the market.
October 26, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
For the second year in a row, a University of South Carolina education alumnus has been named National Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Lucas Clamp, who earned three degrees from the College of Education, is principal of River Bluff High School in Lexington.
October 25, 2018, Page Ivey
Cindy Jackson’s life changed in 2001 when she sustained third-degree burns while living in South America. She was evacuated to the U.S. where she spent the first five months of a two-year healing process. When the 1981 education graduate returned to South America, where she and her family did mission work, she saw what became of burn patients that didn’t have access to the care she got in the U.S.
October 24, 2018, Page Ivey
Akil Ross knew he wanted to have an impact on young people’s lives even before he completed his master’s and Ph.D. in education from the University of South Carolina. His efforts to do just that have won him many accolades, including being named national principal of the year as well as winning the 2018 Outstanding Black Alumnus Award.
October 19, 2018, Allen Wallace
The University of South Carolina’s sport science programs are making an impact around the world, and the success has earned global recognition. The programs are ranked No. 1 in the United States for the third consecutive year in the Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.
October 05, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
Education professor and rabbi, Meir Muller, is devoted to countering antisemitism and bias through education. His work is shaping school curriculum for children in Europe and ultimately, here in South Carolina.
September 18, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
South Carolina is in critical need of special educators, with special education vacancies making up the largest share – nearly 20 percent - of unfilled teaching positions last year. To tackle this growing issue, the College of Education is launching a new certificate program for both early childhood education undergraduate students as well as current teachers.
August 24, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
A cellphone video of Mac Watson opening his acceptance letter from the CarolinaLIFE program spread quickly on social media and continues to gain him a lot of positive attention. Watson’s desire to attend Carolina began just last year, but his love for his future alma mater is bringing thousands to tears.
August 09, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
To increase diversity among South Carolina’s teachers while also tackling the growing teacher shortage, the College of Education is launching the Apple Core Initiative. Ten students, including Marisa Green, will take part in the pilot program which provides scholarships and support for underrepresented populations in South Carolina.
July 31, 2018, Megan Sexton
The lineup of speakers is set for the inaugural TEDxUofSC conference Oct. 9 at the University of South Carolina Alumni Center.
July 19, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
A new College of Education program aimed at increasing teacher retention in South Carolina proves successful in its first year - with 100 percent of participating teachers returning to the classroom next school year. This fall, 50 additional teachers will enter the program, and a $600,000 grant will help the college research the effectiveness of teacher recruitment and retention efforts statewide.
June 19, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
As the state faces a growing teacher shortage, the University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College sign an agreement to create a more efficient path to teaching for transfer students such as YBeth Castro.
June 07, 2018, Kathryn McPhail
In May, David Dutka earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education through Palmetto College, the University of South Carolina’s online degree completion program. In August, he will begin his first year as a teacher at Midway Elementary School – the same school where he repaired pipes and buffed floors as a custodian for several years.
May 23, 2018, Megan Sexton
Education professor Collin Webster works with classroom teachers and others to integrate more physical activity by students throughout the school day.
May 17, 2018, Megan Sexton
Carolina alumna Kari Croft is the founder and principal of RISE High, a charter school in Los Angeles. Croft was awarded a $10 million grant to start the school.