South Carolina Educators Learn about Power Production at Santee Cooper’s Energy Educators Institute
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – This school year, 44 educators from 17 school districts and 29 schools across the state are ready to share energy lessons gained as part of Santee Cooper’s Energy Educators Institute program. The Institute is a graduate-level course that includes hands-on experience in critical fields of the electric industry.
This three-week course takes place during June and July and deepens educators’ understanding of the utility industry so they can inspire their students’ interest in STEM subjects.
Participants engage in online interactions and assignments during the first and third weeks. The second week is spent onsite at Santee Cooper’s Dan Ray Conference Center, where educators participate in experiments, electric and water facility tours, sessions on proactive environmental stewardship and in-depth conversations with several Santee Cooper team members.
“Sharing a deeper understanding of how our electric and water systems work strengthens the entire community. When the educators bring that knowledge into their classrooms, they spark curiosity in the future inventors and decision makers who will shape South Carolina’s energy future,” shared Brandy Incorvia, Santee Cooper’s Manager of Community Relations.
“I personally have gained so much respect for the effort Santee Cooper is doing for not only the citizens, but also the environment, to ensure we leave a clean future for our children,” said Tiffany King, teacher at Summerville Preparatory Academy.
In addition to King, the participants who attended this year include:
Allendale County School District: Patterson Moses
Beaufort County School District: Dayka Smalls
Berkeley County School District: Paul Bryant, Pamela Clower-Soffera, Dabanjan Datta, Amanda Duncan, Brandon Duncan, Natalie McDonald, Julie Samosuk
Charleston County School District: Jacqueline (Jackie) Clarke, Tomiko Parker, Brandy Schaffer, Erin Tarpley, Tanika White
Dorchester County School District: George (Allen) Barbee, Shelley Falk, Tiffany King, Katrina Shivers, Courtney Wiggins
Edgefield County School District: Laura Hendrick, Steven Jankowski, Erin Logan
Florence County School District: Phillip Barr, Debroah Peterkin
Greenwood County School District: Ralph Westbrook III
Horry County School District: Patrick (Lee) Cannon, Flyura Gasca, Victoria Krupa, Michelle Money
Kershaw County School District: Karen Hill, Anne Lemieux
Laurens County School District: Catherine McKee
Lexington County School District: Heather Ergle, Tamra Todd
Orangeburg County School District: Ronald (Ron) Nester
Richland County School District: Susan Matthews, Latha Samson
Saluda County School District: Christa Hipps, Charity Meeler, Jennifer Sheaffer
Sumter County School District: James Coulter
York County School District: Suzanne Hobson, Monica Thompson-Salters
Applications for the 2027 Energy Educators Institute will be open early next year, but interested educators can join the direct mail list now. For more information, visit our website, www.santeecooper.com.
For more than 90 years, Santee Cooper has been serving the people of South Carolina. The utility is South Carolina’s largest power provider and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. Through its affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.