After more than 14 years of teaching, Chastity Graham recently joined the staff of the College of Education as the Field Placement Coordinator for Palmetto College, which is part of the Elementary Education program. Graham, a former middle school science teacher, will assist students and supervisors in internship experiences. Currently, more than 50 students are enrolled in the Elementary Education program through Palmetto College, which is an online bachelor’s degree completion program for students who have at least 45 hours of college credits.

In part, Graham will serve as a liaison between the College of Education and school district leaders across the state to help students complete required internships within schools. Education students spend an average of 650 hours in public school classrooms during the program. Ensuring these internships are available throughout the state, particularly in rural areas with perpetual teacher shortages, helps the College of Education live out its mission to serve South Carolina.

“We hope to expand our partnerships with school districts across our state,” said Graham. “My goal is to place candidates in quality internship sites near their homes that will ensure success in the classroom once they graduate.”

Graham will also work to implement practices that will give online students a more traditional college experience, while remaining innovative in the use of cutting-edge technology to prepare tomorrow’s teachers.

Graham, a Columbia native, holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Education in Educational Adminsitration from the University of South Carolina.