吃瓜网

Eight SC State graduating seniors have joined the teaching profession.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. 鈥� Indira Davis has known since age 5 that she was meant to teach.

Soon, with a degree in early childhood education from 吃瓜网, she will head back to her hometown of Florence, South Carolina, to begin her career in a kindergarten classroom.

鈥淚 love kids. I feel like it's always been my destiny, and I feel like I'm responsible for making an impact in helping bring in good people into the future,鈥� Davis said

Davis was one of eight graduating seniors inducted into the teaching profession on Monday during SC State鈥檚 Educator Induction Ceremony ahead of Friday鈥檚 Spring Commencement. The tradition celebrates the journeys that led the students to become teachers and the promise they bring to the profession.

Davis was inspired at a young age by the educators in her life.
 
"I just feel like my teachers, they always gave me something to look for every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd so, I wanted to do the same for other students.鈥�

She completed her clinical experience at Whitaker Elementary in Orangeburg, gaining real-world experience that shaped her classroom vision.

鈥淚've learned what to do and what not to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淚've learned what I want to implement into my classroom, and I've learned different instructional strategies to help motivate students.鈥�

Along with Davis, the newly inducted educators and their disciplines are:

• Althea Banjamin and Zaria Health, early childhood education.
• Chantel Alexander, Marvenna Hughes and Shakiera Roberts, elementary education.
• Lorena Suber, mathematics education.
• Taliyah Taylor, English education.

Dr. George Johnson, chair of SC State鈥檚 Department of Education, commended the graduates for their determination.

鈥淭oday is a celebration of your hard work, your dedication and your resilience,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淵ou have stayed the course. You've met the challenge and proven that you have what it takes to step into one of the most important professions in our society.鈥�

Johnson also reminded them that the ceremony was not a conclusion.

鈥淭his is just the beginning,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou are stepping into classrooms not simply to teach, but to transform, to shape minds, nurture potential and uplift communities.鈥�

Keynote speaker Eric Brown, principal at Orangeburg County鈥檚 Marshall Elementary School, shared reflections on education, family, and the responsibility of teaching.

鈥淵ou will change the future of every student that you encounter,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淵ou have all the tools inside of you, and now it's time to birth your destiny.鈥�
Taylor found her calling while at SC State. Originally from Baltimore, she grew to love English education thanks to supportive faculty in both the English and education departments.

鈥淓nglish has always been a passion of mine,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淥nce I got to South Carolina State, I realized that this was the profession for me.鈥�
 

Taylor plans to begin her full-time teaching position in Harford County, Maryland.

For Davis, SC State was more than an academic home.

鈥淚 feel like I have a family away from home,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just feel loved.鈥�

Now, she鈥檚 ready to bring that same sense of belonging into her own classroom.

SC State鈥檚 teacher education programs are offered through the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. M. Evelyn Fields, the college鈥檚 dean, administered the Educator鈥檚 Oath to the seniors. Dr. Janice B. Owens, professor and director of the clinical experience program, presided at the induction.

Benjamin, Davis, Heath, Alexander, Roberts and Suler are MATTE-Bridge Scholars. The program recruits and offers scholarships to high school students from rural school districts to attend SC State to pursue and complete baccalaureate degrees in teacher education.

The eight new teachers will cross the stage at the university鈥檚 Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 9, beginning at 10 a.m. in Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

For more information about SC State鈥檚 teacher education programs and other fields of study, visit