Allison Crawford, a first grade teacher at Hanahan Elementary, will teach her students about the science involved in energy production.
“My students will benefit from my new understanding of Santee Cooper as I teach them about electrical safety and the importance of energy conservation,” said Crawford.
Also attending were Susan Haltiwanger, a preschool teacher at Berkeley Elementary; Trebor Keffer, a special education teacher at Berkeley Elementary; Sheri Jenkin, a first grade teacher at Hanahan Elementary; Steven Gabriel, a math resource teacher at Goose Creek High School; John Stephens, a physical education teacher at Boulder Bluff Elementary; and Bonnie Steedly, a teacher at Northside Christian School.
More than 80 educators from across the state participated in this graduate level course, receiving planning materials and gaining knowledge about the production of electricity and the opportunities and challenges of renewable energy. This was illustrated through field experiences and tours of Santee Cooper facilities. Santee Cooper held three institutes this summer.
Each of the four-day institutes included trips to Santee Cooper’s Jefferies Generating Station, the Old Santee Canal Park and industrial customer Alcoa-Mt. Holly, hands-on learning activities and unit planning sessions. Santee Cooper experts addressed topics such as energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, environmental resources, power generation, transmission, distribution, electrical safety, water quality and utility economics.
“The Energy Educators Institute provides engaging standards-based lesson plans in an environment that promotes networking problem-solving with fellow educators,” said Barbara Allen, Santee Cooper’s director of educational programs. “Not only do they learn from the curriculum that Santee Cooper offers, but they learn from each other.”
“Through providing important and timely resources to educators, Santee Cooper continues to live out a long-standing commitment to public education,” said Lonnie Carter, Santee Cooper president and chief executive officer. “Based on what they learned through the Energy Educators Institute, the teachers are able to better equip students with the knowledge and tools they need in order to understand the energy issues important to our world today.”
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility, and the state’s largest power producer.
