NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Early education teachers in North Charleston now have a dedicated space to address classroom issues through a new group initiative.
The BEE Collective, which stands for the Beloved Early Education and Care Collective, is an advocacy organization focused on early childhood development, maternal health, and family support. This Saturday, the group will host a meeting for teachers to share their experiences and discuss common challenges faced in the classroom.
The event will be held at Saint John Catholic Church, located at 3921 St. Johns Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Teachers are encouraged to sign up online to join the conversation.
The meeting aims to tackle key topics such as workplace treatment, teacher rights, and professional development. Organizers say addressing these issues is crucial for the well-being of both educators and students. According to Stephanie McFadden, a community champion with the BEE Collective, while it’s important to listen to parents, hearing directly from teachers provides a more “holistic” approach to shaping future policies. McFadden believes that creating a supportive environment for educators will ultimately benefit the children they teach.
“This may sound cliché, but our children are the future – future doctors, future lawyers, and future leaders,” McFadden said. “A community cannot succeed unless we care for our children and support their education.”
Earlier this year, the BEE Collective addressed prekindergarten suspension rates during a town hall meeting. Leaders believe that supporting teachers is key to improving student behavior in the classroom. McFadden emphasized that advocacy work must involve the community to be truly effective.
“Supporting educators allows us to better understand student behavior as a form of communication,” she said. “We want to give children the chance to thrive, and teachers need to feel supported so they can provide the care and guidance that students need.”
This meeting is the second for the group, with plans to continue the initiative on a monthly basis. Teachers attending the event will receive a gift card stipend as a token of appreciation for their participation.
The discussion is open exclusively to educators and early childhood care workers, with the aim of providing a safe, open space for candid conversations, free from managerial oversight.
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