Events for South Carolina Educators
Join the Discovery Educator Network
Trusted by educators since 2005, the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) offers you one of the most thriving professional learning networks in the world. DEN Members are dedicated to preparing learners for tomorrow by using digital resources and DE to create innovative classrooms connected to today’s world. They’re educators from all roles and backgrounds, joined by a passion for continuous learning and a commitment to their students.
South Carolina DEN STAR Teacher Design Team
The Teacher Design Team (TDT) is a dedicated group of K-8 educators from various disciplines and grade levels that collaborate to share valuable insights, feedback, and expertise in developing innovative educational resources. The team identifies gaps in their curriculum and then works together to create lessons using the Discovery Education Experience Studio tool. Utilizing Discovery Education Experience Studio, the South Carolina Teacher Design Team redesigns lessons within Discovery Education Experience based on their South Carolina academic standards, which supports fellow teachers in their schools and/or districts.
The first cohort of Discovery Education TDT members are South Carolina Discovery Educator Network (DEN) STARS who have strong connection to Discovery Education and our community of educators. Each member completed three months of professional learning with the Discovery Education team and designed lessons that can be used to serve students and teachers across the state. Let’s celebrate the work of these amazing educators!
2023 Teacher Design Team Members
Amy Berry
Special Education Resource Teacher
Richland One School District
Amy Berry has been a special education teacher for 15 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in the areas of Elementary Education, K-12 Special Education and Middle School English Language Arts, as well as a Master’s Degree in Special Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is currently a Special Education resource teacher in the most wonderful elementary school. Amy is happily married with 2 beautiful boys, ages 3 & 6.
Andrea Karaffa
Middle Level Science Teacher
Richland One School District
Andrea Karaffa teaches 7th grade science at Crayton Middle School in Richland District One in Columbia, South Carolina. She has been teaching at Crayton for 31 years. She received her undergraduate degree in Education from Winthrop University and her master's degree in Natural Sciences from the University of South Carolina. Andrea is also National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Science: Early Adolescence.
Beth Goude
Instructional Technology Coach
Georgetown County School District
Beth Goude is an Instructional Technology Coach in Georgetown, SC and has been in education for 27 years with 24 of those years in the classroom. She is National Board Certified and has a masters degree in Instructional Technology. She currently serves five elementary schools within her district to help teachers, administrators, and instructional coaches plan and develop technology rich lessons and units. Beth's goal as an Instructional Technology Coach is to encourage teachers to utilize technology to improve their craft.
Mironda Perkins
Third Grade Teacher
Richland Two School District
Mironda Perkins is a 3rd-grade teacher and director of an afterschool program in Richland 2 School District. She has been teaching for 18 years. She was the teacher of the year at Conder Elementary Arts Integrated Magnet School for 2022-23 and is also the Green Steps Lead. Mironda enjoys the outdoors and spending time with friends and family.
Niesha Butler
Technology and Learning Coach
Richland Two School District
Niesha Butler is a veteran educator with 19 years of teaching and coaching experience. Throughout her teaching career, she’s had the privilege of teaching multiple grades in both a traditional and non-traditional setting. She is passionate about differentiated learning, technology integration, and data driven instruction. Niesha believes all children can learn when placed in the right environment and given the right tools.
Nikki Goode
Technology and Learning Coach
Richland Two School District
Nikki Goode is the Technology and Learning Coach at Langford Elementary in Richland School District Two, where she is currently in her 22nd year of public education. She was an early childhood classroom teacher for twelve years before stepping into the Coaching role. Her passion is guiding teachers to discover and incorporate technology in their instruction so that learning is purposeful and engaging for all learners.
Nikki has presented at several national and state-level conferences including ISTE, ISTE Edtech Coach’s Webinar Series, SC EdTech, SC Assistive Technology Conference, Midlands Summit, and Newberry College’s RETAIN Tech Conference.
Susan Barnes
Middle Level Science Teacher
Lexington One School District
Susan Barnes is a 6th grade science teacher at White Knoll Middle School in Lexington 1. She has taught multiple grade levels but loves middle school science the best. She loves to use technology in the classroom and is always looking for different ways to incorporate multiple resources when possible. Fun fact: Susan's mom jokes that Susan would have a farm if she could because she already has 2 beagles and 2 bunnies.
Wandalyn Jones
Academic Interventionist
Charleston County School District
Wandalyn has 26 years teaching Special Education. She currently serves as the Academic Interventionist at the Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies (career school) in Charleston County. She is married, with 2 children & 5 grandchildren. Wandalyn spends her extra time with her family, watching Korean dramas, & listening to K-pop, specifically BTS.
Zerita Johnson-Thomas
Middle Level Math Teacher | Richland One School District
Zerita Johnson-Thomas has been an educator for 16 years. She has served as an educator in Texas and South Carolina and has been working for Richland One School district for 5 years as the 8th Team Leader and Math department chair.
2024 Teacher Design Team Members
Amanda Blake
Richland Two District Office
Ashley Bushell
Joseph Keels Elementary
LaTasha Randle
Dent Middle School
Sheree Benbow
Joseph Keels Elementary
Kimberly Smalls
Killian Elementary
Brianna McCain
Lake Carolina Elementary
"Being part of Discovery Education's teacher design team allows educators to make a significant impact beyond their own classrooms. By collaborating with like-minded educators and having direct input into the creation of high-quality educational resources, teachers on the design team receive a unique opportunity to contribute to the field of education and inspire their fellow educators around the state."