12 17 25 We talk with SC Super of Education Ellen Weaver

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Jonathan and Kelly Show. Jonathan Rush, there's.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Also a January thirtieth deadline to fund the government. Do
you have any expectation that Democrats might tie that to
ACA like you did last time to try to get
a result. Just as I said, it's on the Republicans
that we haven't had healthcare done.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
Kelly Nash, she doesn't vote to shut the government down
on January thirtieth.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
As I said, the way to solve this problem the Republicans,
they should make sure that they pass our bill.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
The Jonathan and Kelly Show, and now we begin our
dangerous little dance again. Chuck Schumer denying, He went and
played the role of Peter here, denied it three times.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Look, they're going to shut it down unless you just
take that power away from them. I hope that the
Republicans take that power away, use the nuclear option. We're
going to keep America rolling.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
And I guess that was the wrong description. He didn't
deny it, he just wouldn't answer it now like I
said before, Well you didn't give us the answer before,
but keep asking the question, so we'll keep asking the question.
Heng on let's sake it We got another phone call
and the double secret probation there hotlines. Kelly Nash, Welcome
on the phone. Superintendent of Education for the proud state
of South Carolina, Ellen Weaver, good morning, Hey.

Speaker 4 (01:07):
Jonathan and Kelly. We are a proud state of South Carolina.
Thanks for having me today.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Well, I know twenty twenty five has been a proud
year for you. We've talked about that earlier with some
of the initiatives that you set out when you first
took the position, and how you've been able to reach
some of those goals or at least on your way
to find a lot or reaching the goals that you
had set out for the Department of Education.

Speaker 4 (01:27):
Yeah, we are so excited about the progress that we
are seeing in classrooms in every corner of South Carolina.
And I want to start by saying I had a
massive celebration last Thursday when I completed my tour of
every district and every special school in the state of
South Carolina, over eighty of them. And we ended in Darlington.

(01:50):
And so after I did my school visits, I actually
went to the racetrack there and several principles and the
superintendent and I got to get our picture made and
Victory Lane, and it was just a great day of
celebration and just the incredible gains that we're seeing in reading,
in math, and career readiness in every corner of South Carolina.

(02:10):
We have so much to.

Speaker 3 (02:11):
Celebrate well, and we certainly appreciate all your efforts. We're
talking with the Superintendent of Education, Owen Weaver. You know,
I saw you recently at the SC two point fifty
celebration for African American History over at the Richland two District.
It seems like you've made history a priority for our

(02:32):
state and you're trying to make it fun so the
kids can learn.

Speaker 4 (02:35):
Yeah. Absolutely, history has to be a priority because you know,
the famous thing goes that those who don't know history
are doomed to repeat it. And we know that America
didn't just happen by chance. It was intentional choice and
sacrifice on the part of our founding fathers and mothers,
and the freedom that we enjoy in South Carolina and

(02:57):
across the United States was one here on the mountains
and fields and forests and swamps of South Carolina. We
were the turning point of the American Revolution. And I
want every student in South Carolina to know that history,
to own that history and to see their place in
that history, because ultimately we're going to be passing the
baton of America onto them, and it's going to be

(03:19):
up to them to make sure that we celebrate the
next two hundred and fiftieth Birthday of America. And so
I am so passionate about this. We have a lot
of projects underway with our Palmetto Civics projects. People can
find information about that at Coalmmetto Civics dot project dot com.
And that includes, as you said, our South Carolina African

(03:41):
American History calendar. The theme this year is revolutionary, and
we're telling stories of not only revolutionary war time heroes
but also just revolutionary African American leaders throughout South Carolina history.
And one of the ones that I'd love to feature
for you iss Marion. We know about Francis Marion, the

(04:02):
swamp Box, the Oscar Marion fought alongside Francis Marion at
every single juncture of the American Revolution, and he is
every bit as much an American hero, and it's time
that the students in South Carolina knew his story.

Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, speaking specifically just of recent history, I have a
joke before never to you. But now I'm finding out
you might actually enjoy my little joke. I really need
a good agent to actually convince a district that i'd
be a great superintendent. That way, when it's found out
that I'm not, I get this incredible payout so I
can go retire.

Speaker 4 (04:37):
But I'm bumping yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:38):
I mean, this golden parachute that we've had, you're going
to do? We wait, what are you cutting the cutting
the strings on the parachute? What are we doing?

Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yeah, We're gonna work hard with the General Assembly to
bring some common sense and uniformity to our superintendent contracts.
And in all seriousness, you know, our superintendents, by and large,
it's a tough job. They're working really, really hard and
they deserve, you know, to be paid accordingly. But when
we have superintendents who are moved along for whatever reason,

(05:10):
you know, we've seen story after story after story of
them getting these massive multi year payouts. And that's money
that is intended for every South Carolina student and for
teachers to support their work in the classroom, not to
pay out golden parachutes. And so we're going to put
an end to that working with the General Assembly here

(05:31):
in South Carolina. It's not just about ensuring that that
money gets the students. It's about maintaining the stewardship and
trust that we have with taxpayers who work really hard
for that money and want to make sure that it's
getting to the place that they intended for to go,
which is our classroom.

Speaker 3 (05:47):
Talking with Ellen Weaver, the Superintendent of Education, you know,
we're here in the holidays and we often hear about
how difficult it is for the kids to re engage
when they come back in the new year. Any tips
are ice for parents' grandparents to try to help their
kids get, you know, stay engaged.

Speaker 4 (06:04):
Well, I think one of the things that's most important
is sit down and read with your children. Do not
let them spend the entire Christmas break on a device.
We know that technology is causing such harm to our students.
It actually is shrinking their brains. As scary as that
is to say, and we as adults, as tough as

(06:27):
it is, because I know kids frankly are addicted to
their technology, and we as adults are addicted to the
technology if we're honest about it. But we have to
come together and be responsible and say enough is enough.
Let's get our kids reading, Let's get them playing outside
when it's not so cold out. Let's get them reconnected

(06:47):
with the real world, because that's how they're going to
be successful, not just in school, but in life.

Speaker 1 (06:53):
Well, you know, twenty twenty five. Wrapping up, let's talk
a little bit about the budget side of twenty twenty six.
What do you see that you're you really need for
your office? So what are the things you'd be working
hard to make sure the General Assembly facilitates for our students.

Speaker 4 (07:06):
Well, we have three big buckets of priorities. It starts
with student learning. We are continuing to request money around
early literacy to make sure that we are getting those
students who may be struggling in first and second and
third grade that help they need as soon as we
possibly can get it to them. So that's going to
be a big priority. We also are going to be

(07:29):
working to implement a curriculum that helps educate both students
and parents about the brain science behind what technology is
doing to their brains and the goal there is to
empower our students and our parents to make wise choices
when it comes to technology. But we know that our
students only learn when we keep great teachers in the classroom,

(07:52):
and so we're going to continue to push to raise
the starting teacher salary. Here. Governor McMaster, when he came
into office, said that we we're going to shoot for
fifty thousand, and this year we are in striking distance.
So both the Governor and I are requesting a fifty thousand,
five hundred minimum starting salary for teachers in South Carolina.
And the amazing thing is we're seeing the results of

(08:15):
our across the board increases, our strategic compensation Pilot, and
so many of the other initiatives that we have put
into place to support teachers actually working. We had a
fifty six percent reduction in the number of teaching vacancies
over the last two years, and we've even continue to
grow the number of teacher spots. So this is great

(08:37):
news that tells us that we are starting to turn
the corner in terms of retaining our very best teachers.
So we're going to continue to push that forward. And
then the last big priority is all around safe schools,
and so we're going to ask the General Assembly to
invest in school infrastructure for our charter schools and for
our rural districts that need to support, and we're also

(08:59):
going to ask them to continue to prioritize school safety.
They have come to the table in a big way
over the last few years, and we know nothing else
matters of our students aren't safe, So we're going to
continue to prioritize that. But I just want to say
how grateful I am for the Governor's partnership and for
the partnership at the General Assembly. Over the last three years.
We have put out the need and they have answered

(09:22):
the call every single time. And I anticipate that this
year is going to be another great year for education
in South Carolina.

Speaker 3 (09:28):
I was going to say congratulations on a great twenty
twenty five, Excited for twenty twenty six and the plans,
and hopefully they all come to fruition as you see them,
because South Carolina is moving in the right direction.

Speaker 4 (09:39):
That's right. We call it the South Carolina Third and
I'm so excited. I'm actually on my way up to
Greenville today to welcome US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
And what I love so much about her leadership is
that she believes that states can lead the way. And
I'm here to tell you South Carolina is leading the
way and we're ready to step up and do even more.

Speaker 1 (10:00):
I'm glad to hear it, excited about it, and hope
you all your resolutions for twenty twenty six come true.
Thanks again for taking the time to spend with us
to make sure that we get updated on what's happening
out of your office.

Speaker 4 (10:10):
Yeah, my pleasure. Well, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and
I'm excited to talk to y'all in twenty twenty six.