January 29, 2019: Gerrita Postlewait, Superintendent of Charleston County Schools, was the speaker at today’s meeting. Dr. Postlewait became 
Charleston County’s Superintendent of Schools on July 9, 2015. She brings with her a wealth of experiences as an education practitioner and leader at the district, state, and national levels, and as an executive in the private sector.
She served as Chair of the State Board of Education, as a member of the national governing board of the American Association of School Administrators, and as a consultant for several districts, states, and national organizations. As Chief K-12 Officer for a foundation, she helped establish the national Innovation Lab Network and co-founded Transform SC, a state-wide business-education partnership that fosters systemic educational change.
She noted that Charleston has both some of the highest achieving schools and the lowest performing schools in the state, and that this bifurcation demonstrates the largest challenge faced by the district. How do we maintain the strong schools while improving the struggling ones?
She noted there are three types of changes: Adaptive change, Technical change, and Transformative change. She believes this is the time for transformative change for CCSD.
For the past four months, a 30-member team from across Charleston County came together as part of the Shared Future project to co-create a set of four scenarios to answer the question: What might our education system and our community look like in 2035?
This diverse group bridges race, sectors, geography, politics, age, and roles. This Charleston Shared Future team took into account previous studies, like the Clemson Study on Diversity and Inclusion, Post and Courier’s “Minimally Adequate” series, The Avery Institute’s Racial Disparity Study, the 1998 Harvard Study on Charleston’s Education System, the recent Charleston County School District’s (CCSD) strategic plan, and other relevant data and experiences.
After several months of work, the scenarios were shared with educators, CCSD parents and community members at the CCSD Board of Trustees meeting on January 28, 2019. The meeting was held in the Burke High School auditorium to accommodate the number of attendees.
The scenarios present four different stories about what the future of education might look like in 2035 in Charleston County and some possible paths to get to those endpoints.
In summary, they include:
- 1835: A fixed point in time, with no movement forward
- Sweetgrass Basket: A slow and intensive process like that of making a basket. The sweetgrass must be processed before it is pliable enough to produce useful products.
- Reconstruction: The need to reconstruct a system that was designed not to benefit all.
- Techtowne: Technology drives the future.
What happens next belongs to the community. While CCSD represents a key part of the education system, Charleston County – its people and its organizations – are as critical to this effort as the school district is and will help decide and facilitate next steps.
Dr. Postlewait shared that she believes we should redefine what is required to graduate, noting that our current system of 24 Carnegie units, which relates to 8100 seat hours per subject, is antiquated and doesn’t relate to skill attainment.
Over the next 12 months, the team will be putting together a bold agenda to improve all schools in the district. The goal is that every graduate be ready to work, enter the military, or pursue higher education. She notes this is a world-class place to live, and we need a world-class education system.
Dr. Postlewait acknowledged that teachers and community members are wary of a new plan, as they have heard many times over the past 20 years that an innovation was going to improve schools, but nothing has worked to date. She believes this initiative is different, as it is community-driven and recognizes that barriers to success.
Additional information on Charleston Shared Future can be found at http://www.ccsdschools.com/about_us/shared_future_project
Lisa Van Bergen, Keyway Committee
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
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- Charlton Wieters gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- John Cowan introduced Visiting Rotarians and guests.
- President Alex Dallis presented Health and Happiness.
- Rob Dewey introduced our keynote speaker, Dr. Gerrita Postlewait, Superintendent of Charleston County School District, who gave an update on Charleston County schools.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
February 5, 2019 | Issue 4918 | President: Alex Dallis
COMING EVENTS
- February 5 – Brig. General Milford Beagle, Commanding General Ft. Jackson
- February 12 – Pat Keaveney, USS Charleston, March 2 christening
- February 19 – No Meeting
- February 26 – Mark Sloan, art exhibit
- March 5 – Nick Wackym, warfighter
NEWS BRIEFS
Adopt-A-Highway a Success
On a chilly Saturday morning, ten members of the Rotary Club of Charleston along with 2 Youth Exchange students and several students from the Interact Club at Charleston Math & Science removed litter from Bee Street in downtown Charleston. Items collected included cigarette butts, candy wrappers, beer cans and a blanket. The work was completed within an hour and a few members met afterwards for lunch at the Bay Street Biergarten. A make-up credit was issued to all Rotarian volunteers for their efforts.
Volunteers Needed for Book Fair
Our school partner, James Simons Elementary, is looking for a few volunteers to help out during their Book Fair this week. Please see the below available dates and time slots. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Jennifer Savage at the school directly – jennifer_savage@charleston.k12.sc.us. Volunteers will receive a make-up credit — just let Carroll know you volunteered.
Wed., February 6
7:30-9:30
9:30-11:30
11:30-1:30
1:30-3:30
3:30-5:00
Thurs., February 7
11:30-1:30
1:30-3:30
3:30-5:00
January Dues Statements
January dues statements were emailed to all members prior to the holidays. Prompt payment is appreciated. A second notice has been emailed to all those who are past due. If you did not receive your statement or it got misplaced, please let Carroll know and she’ll gladly send it to you.
International Committee Accepting Grant Applications
The International Project Committee is now accepting grant applications for international projects that you may be involved. Rotary is dedicated to building international relationships that improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio. Grants will range from $500-$2500. Deadline to submit an application is March 1st.
Hibben Warming Shelter Volunteers
The Warming Shelter located at Hibben United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant is once again opening their facility as a refuge from the cold. Recently, our Rotary Club made a financial donation to this needed outreach. The Board is in hopes that several Rotarians would be willing to volunteer once or more. Contact Rotarian Cecil Mills for detailed information on volunteering at the Shelter – cmills@sonitrol.com.
Rotarian Featured Speaker at Charleston Library Society Events
Rotarian Dr. John Scott Cowan, who is a yearly visiting Rotarian from Canada to our club, is scheduled to be a featured speaker at two events hosted by the Charleston Library Society in February. The Charleston Library Society has graciously offered to extend its Library Society member rates for these two events to members of our Rotary Club.
The February 6 program is one hour, from 11am to noon, and is $15 for non-members and $10 for CLS members and for Rotary members. The title of the program is The Educated Citizen and Democracy. This talk contains dangerous ideas. Some may be useful in understanding past elections and bracing for coming ones. But at its heart, it is about misconceptions about education, and about what constitutes the core suite of knowledge and analytical skills needed to be able to fully exercise our rights and meet our obligations as free citizens of a democracy. It also touches on why public discourse and it reportage has become less brainy and more chaotic, despite the proliferation of higher education.
The February 20 program is 3 hours, from 10am to 1pm, and the non-member price is $35 and member price, both for CLS members and Rotary members, is $25. The title of the discussion is Best Friends, Whether We Like It or Not: US-Canada Relations and Interactions 1760-Present. This topic will cover the history of the relationship between the US (or its precursor colonies) and Canada (or its colonial precursor) from the fall of Quebec near the end of the French and Indian War to the present. The impact of each on the other, in terms of flow of people, of trade, of conflict or cooperation, and of cultural interaction will be covered. Perspectives on identities in the 40 years following the Declaration of Independence and a somewhat new take on the War of 1812 will be covered. The shift from cautious friendship after 1870 to the closest of allies today will be addressed, and contemporary relationship challenges related to trade and defence will be analyzed. The sequence will be talk of 1hr 20 min, break 15 min, Q&A and discussion, 45 min, concluding talk, 25 min.
The Charleston Library Society’s website is www.charlestonlibrarysociety.org, and their phone number is 843-723-9912. Members can sign up for either of these events on the CLS website or by phone.
Our Club is on Instagram
Our club launched an Instagram account this week. Please be sure to follow us at @ChasRotaryClub, which is our Twitter handle, as well.
Members are encourage to follow all of our social media channels and share posts with their followers too! We also need members to send us picture of anything they do that relates to Rotary – service projects, meetings, events, etc. We would love to keep our accounts full of smiling Rotarians! Photos can be send to Mike Sottak, mikesottak@gmail.com, or Rob Byko, rob@bykorealty.com.
MEMBER NEWS
Member News
Healing thoughts and prayers are with two of our members …. Tom Giovanniello had shoulder surgery this past week. It was great to see him at Rotary this past Tuesday wearing his newest accessory! Colleen Moring was in a skiing accident in Big Sky, Montana. She has a broken ankle and some fractured ribs and underwent surgery out there. She is now back in Charleston and is said to be recovering well. We wish both of these Rotarians a speedy and full recovery!
Proposed New Member
The following membership candidates have submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:
Jeremy Divis – sponsor: Charlton Wieters, classification: Lab Equipment/Sales
David Cohen – sponsor: Rob Dewey; classification: Securities/Regl/Financial Planning
Madeleine Frume – sponsor: Karl Riner; classification: Investor
Marjorie Hanger – sponsor: Charlie Palmer; classification: Financial Services
In the event you know any of these prospective members, please tell a member of the Board how he will serve the ideas of Rotary.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Ja’net Bishop, Ed.D
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- Joined: 2018
- Sponsor: President-Elect Sandy Morckel
- Membership Involvement: Member Spotlight Coordinator; Veteran Committee Member; RCCF Advisory Committee Member
- Classification: Education
- Profession: Speaker/Trainer/Author; CEO of Boots to Breakthrough, LLC
- Something Unique About Yourself: I’ve served as a veteran Army officer, as a military spouse, and am the mother of two veterans (William II and Matthew). My late husband, William (married 28-years) and I also proudly served as Georgia school administrators. I relocated to SC in 2017, and launched Boots to Breakthrough, LLC in 2018 to inspire others through training on the 8 Dimensions of Wellness to instill personal resiliency, workplace wellness and how to make the rest of your life – the best of your life. I love it! Look forward to connecting http://www.linkedin.com/in/drjanetbishop
Birthdays
- February 6 – Tom Leonard
By the numbers
Attendance on January 29, 2019: 62
Not in attendance: Baggs, Bailey, Barry, Baus, Beam, Brack, Bullard, Buzon, Byko, Carico, Ceccato, Channell, Clark, Coe, Coghill, Cole, Cooper, E., Coxe, Deavenport, DeGraff, Donnellon, Dopp, Drafts, Dukes, Embry, Gill, Holmes, Hudnall, Husser, Jamme, Jones, C., Kaynard, Kerrigan, Leonard, Lvingston, McVicker, Moring, Oswalt, Ravenel, Raver, Riley, Rust, Schmidt, Seguer, Sidebottom, Smith, H., Smith, M., Strickland, Tecklenburg, John, Uram, Welborn, Whitaker
Out of Town Make-ups: None
WELLNESS TIP
Make the Most of Nutritious Winter Fruits and Vegetables
Eating during winter doesn’t have to be boring and vitamin deficient. Keep carbohydrate-laden foods such as white bread and pasta to a minimum and fill your plate with dark leafy greens, winter squash, citrus and pomegranate which thrive in the chill of winter.
These fruits and vegetables are laden with nutrients, antioxidants and fiber which increase your energy and help keep that winter-weight at bay. They can help fight cancer, too.
AREA CLUB MEETINGS
Mondays
- Summerville – Oakbrook: 7:30 a.m., Monday, Westcott County Club, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, North Charleston
- North Charleston: 12:30 a.m., Monday, Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Blvd, North Charleston.
- Summerville Evening: 5:30 p.m., Monday, Montreux Bar and Grill, 127 W. Richardson Ave., Summerville
Tuesdays
- East Cooper Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Cooper River Room at Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant
- Charleston: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Hall’s Signature Events, 5 Faber, Charleston
- Goose Creek: 12:45 m. Tuesday, Gilligan’s, 219 St. James Ave., Goose Creek
Wednesdays
- Daniel Island: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Dr., Daniel Island
- St. John’s Parish (John’s Island): 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, 2817 Maybank Highway, Unit 1, John’s Island
- Mount Pleasant: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Harbor Breeze Restaurant, 176 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant
- Summerville: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sticky Fingers, Summerville
Thursdays
- North Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Embassy Suites, 5055 International Blvd., North Charleston
- Moncks Corner: 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Gilligan’s Restaurant, Moncks Corner
- St. Andrews (West Ashley): 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Bessinger’s BBQ, 1602 Savannah Highway, Charleston.
Fridays
- Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m., Friday, Harbour Club, 35 Prioleau St., Charleston
SOCIAL MEDIA
Our Rotary club actively uses social media — and we encourage you to interact with us through social media.
- We’re on Facebook. Take a look at our page and be sure to “like us”.
- We’re on Twitter. You can follow us @chasrotaryclub.
ABOUT THE KEYWAY
The Keyway has been published weekly as a newsletter for the Rotary Club of Charleston for more than 90 years.
- President: Alex Dallis
- Keyway editor: Don Baus don@sgaarchitecture.com
- Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, carrollschweers@gmail.com
- Mailing address: Rotary Club of Charleston, P.O. Box 21029 ,Charleston, SC 29413-1029
- Copyright 2018, Rotary Club of Charleston. All rights reserved.