Virtual Spanish Teacher Named 2023 Teacher of the Year

CASC Teacher Honored by Erskine College Charter Institute

Cyber Academy of South Carolina (CASC) is excited to announce that Sharmaine Roaden, electives department chair and high school Spanish teacher, was named Teacher of the Year by Erskine College’s Charter Institute. She and four other finalists were honored last night at a banquet at the Columbia Convention Center ballroom in Columbia, S.C.

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CASC Teacher Sharmaine Roaden Wins SC Teacher of the Year Honors (Photo: Business Wire)

Roaden and her fellow district finalists were chosen from teachers across the institute’s 27 primary and secondary charter schools.

“Sharmaine approaches her students with positivity and kindness, believing that if you build the right relationships, you can teach a student anything,” says Nicki Batson, CASC executive director. “We are so proud of her achievements, and very happy that she is being recognized in this capacity. Teaching is a challenging profession these days, and Sharmaine is a shining example of the amazing and rewarding career a teacher can have.”

In South Carolina, charter schools can be sponsored by three entities, one being an independent institute of higher learning. The Erskine College Charter Institute was created in 2017.

One of Roaden’s former colleagues at Ashley Ridge High School in Summerville, S.C., says she is a beloved teacher and her students respect her and work hard to meet classroom expectations. And it wasn’t only the students. “I know for certain that many teachers benefited, grew and thrived as a result of getting the opportunity to work with Sharmaine. She is undoubtedly an educator who makes those around her better,” says Gina Faas, her Ashley Ridge colleague.

A teacher for 12 years, Roaden serves 120 virtual students from her home office in Summerville. In addition to her honor from the district, Roaden was also named CASC Teacher of the Year because of the warm and welcoming virtual classroom environment she creates for her students – which takes even more intention than a traditional classroom, according to CASC Principal Stephanie Wells.

Clearly an advocate for her students, her school and even the profession as a whole, Roaden believes teachers should be held accountable for bringing inspiration to the classroom. And to do this they need support from the district with programs around mental health, leadership training, mentorship and cross-curricular collaboration opportunities.

“I instantly fell in love with teaching Spanish at the high school level,” she says. “My students are truly the best part of my day. My goal was and continues to be helping students cultivate new perspectives, collaborate and foster deeper connections.”

About Cyber Academy of South Carolina

Cyber Academy of South Carolina (CASC) is an online public-school program of The Charter Institute at Erskine, serving students across the state of South Carolina. CASC is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the engaging curriculum and tools provided by Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation’s leading provider of proprietary K-12 curriculum and online education programs. For more information about CASC, visit casc.k12.com.

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