South Carolina Educators Graduate From New Teaching Program
Thirty local school employees have earned certifications to become teachers, filling roles across seven districts.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Thirty educators across South Carolina recently graduated from the EPIC Apprenticeship program, including five from the Williamsburg County School District. This U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship creates a pathway for school employees to transition into fully licensed teaching roles.
Why it matters
By providing structured training and educational support, this initiative helps districts fill critical teacher vacancies with current staff members. The program ensures that these new teachers of record have met both degree requirements and licensure standards for student success.
The inaugural graduating class included 30 educators from 7 South Carolina districts, with 5 graduates coming from Williamsburg County. Of these apprentices, 8 earned bachelor's degrees and 7 passed their required licensure exams.
The players
EPI Center
An organization established in 2021 that coordinates teacher training, education, and professional development support services.
Voorhees University
A South Carolina institution that hosted the graduation ceremony and provided the bachelor's degree curriculum for apprentices.
Williamsburg County School District
A local education agency that employed five of the educators who successfully transitioned into licensed teaching positions.
Tyliya Moses
An educator who received the Apple Award during the inaugural graduation ceremony.
The details
The EPIC Apprenticeship program combines on-the-job training with ongoing professional development to prepare school employees for classroom roles. Through this model, participants earn degrees and pass board exams while maintaining their current employment within the school system. This structured approach allows districts to retain staff while effectively meeting professional certification requirements.
Timeline
The EPI Center was established in 2021.
The inaugural class graduated in October 2026.
The Home Front
This program reflects a growing trend in state-led initiatives to address teacher shortages by creating alternative certification pathways. It formalizes the training process for school employees, aligning local school staffing needs with the standards of the U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program.
If you or a family member work in a local school district, look for similar certification and apprenticeship opportunities supported by your district's professional development office. Families should note that these programs aim to increase the stability and retention of qualified teaching staff in local classrooms.
The takeaway
These apprenticeship programs turn existing school support staff into certified teachers to help stabilize classroom staffing across the state. Families can check their local school board meeting minutes for updates on district participation in similar professional development pathways.
Further reading
Learn more about local school initiatives and staffing trends in the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Post and Courier.
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Should local schools prioritize apprenticeship programs to help staff transition into licensed teaching roles?
