Cathy Knox, ’72, entered the University of South Carolina as an English major in the honors program. When she changed her major to education, she sometimes felt that she missed out on key lessons her peers learned early on. And as she adjusted to her first teaching job at West Columbia’s Saluda River Elementary, she often wished she had someone to talk to.
Enter principal David Johnson, a warm and welcoming presence who understood the value of classroom coaching. Knox credits Johnson’s kindness and listening skills with making their school feel like a home.
“It’s expensive to train a new teacher, and if they can stick around for the first five years, they tend to make a lifelong career of it. I hope this gift will help South Carolina retain the very best teachers and make them happy to continue teaching.”
In 2023, Knox met Cindy Van Buren, Johnson’s daughter and the College of Education’s assistant dean for professional partnerships. That encounter inspired Knox to support new teachers just as her first principal had once supported her.
USC had a way for her to do that. The Carolina Teacher Induction Program provides novice teachers with coaching support from experienced classroom leaders. Currently serving more than 250 participating teachers across 15 school districts in the Midlands and Pee Dee, the program has had a significant impact on teacher retention. Knox’s gift to CarolinaTIP will enable its continued expansion into new districts across the state.