Ken Vogler, Ed.D.
Primary Investigator
Ken Vogler (Ed.D., University of Massachusetts at Lowell) has been an associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina-Columbia for the past twenty years. He teaches courses in elementary social studies methods and supervises preservice teachers. His research interests include the impact of high-stakes testing on curriculum and instruction and media literacy.
Susan Schramm-Pate, Ph.D.
Co-Primary Investigator
Susan Schramm is a dedicated education professor at the University of South Carolina specializing in teacher preparation and professional development. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she has become known for her compassionate approach to online graduate education. Schramm has developed innovative “online” programs to support her students, including flexible course schedules and mentorship opportunities. In the online classroom, Schramm creates a supportive environment where her graduate students feel comfortable sharing their experiences and concerns. She often incorporates reflective practices and peer support groups into her curriculum, recognizing the importance of emotional well-being in the online learning process. Outside of online teaching, Schramm advocates for policy changes to improve working conditions for her university colleagues, as well as teachers, and to make graduate education more accessible. Her dedication to her students’ success extends beyond academics, as she strives to nurture well-rounded educators who can thrive in their careers and personal lives.
After earning her Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Miami University of Ohio, Schramm began her career as a faculty at the University of South Carolina in the College of Education in 1998. At the University of South Carolina, Schramm teaches courses on the development of educational curriculum and pedagogy as well as diversity education and the curriculum to create positive learning environments. Known for her warmth and approachability, Schramm’s “virtual” office door is always open to students and colleagues seeking advice or support. Her dedication to fostering a compassionate and inclusive academic environment has earned her the College of Education’s Excellence in Teaching award.
Jessica Escorcia
Project Manager #1- Fiscal
Jessica Escorcia serves as the Project Manager for this DOE grant project. She coordinates and manages school district partnerships and works with the school liaisons to communicate all information to program participants. She manages course registration, course scheduling, and assists with the implementation of micro credentials. Ms. Escorcia organizes the planning for the summer travel study, spring workshop, and any conferences. She issues the payment of stipends and coordinates the setup of participants in the USC supplier portal. The project manager also assists with the overall fiscal management of the project in terms of tracking expenditures and submitting semi-annual reports to the DOE.
Phillippe St. Gerard
Project Manager #2 - Communications
Phillippe is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts’ Animation Department.
Kendall Deas, Ph.D.
Civic Engagement Consultant
Kendall Deas, Ph.D. is key personnel for this grant initiative serving as Civic Engagement Coordinator. He received his Ph.D in education policy from the University of Georgia’s Mary Frances Early College of Education.
Deas is an Assistant Professor of Education Policy, Law, and Politics with the African American Studies Department at the University of South Carolina. His research is focused upon determining best practice models to improve public education. Deas was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Turku’s School of Law in Turku, Finland where he earned a Certificate in International Trade Law. In 2023, he was one of 16 scholars selected nationally as a Teacher Scholar with Clemson University through a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to develop learning tools to support K-12 educators in civic engagement education. As Civic Engagement Coordinator, Deas will develop and coordinate yearly workshops to educate teachers from Sumter and Darlington County School Districts about civic engagement and to equip them with resources to enhance civic engagement education in their classrooms for students.
Emily Kimpton, Ph.D.
Liaison to Sumter School District
Emily Kimpton, Ph.D. is a seasoned educator who currently serves as the Secondary English Language Arts, World Language, and AVID Coordinator in Sumter School District in Sumter, SC, where she has been serving since 2012. She oversees the certification and implementation of AVID at nine schools, develops district curriculum and assessments, and spearheads professional development initiatives in literacy and instructional best practices. Her career highlights include facilitating professional learning communities as a Literacy Coach for Anderson School District 5, teaching as an adjunct professor at Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, and presenting at numerous educational conferences, including Palmetto State Literacy Association and SC Council of Teachers of English.
Emily Kimpton holds a Ph.D. in Language & Literacy and multiple certifications and SC Department of Education endorsements, reflecting her commitment to literacy education and leadership. Additionally, she has actively contributed to various professional committees and served as the President of the South Carolina Literacy Leaders and the Sumter Literacy Council.
Jennifer Gribben
Liaison to Darlington County School District
Jennifer Gribben is the District Coordinator for ELA and Social Studies Pre-K-12 for the Darlington County School District. Jennifer’s current role allows her to serve on several state committees for the development of the ELA and social studies standards and test creation at the state level. She is a former instructional coach, middle school English and social studies teacher, English I teacher, gifted and talented instructor and New Tech Facilitator.
Jennifer has presented at several national and South Carolina state conferences. Some of her presentations have included building culture and community in the middle school classroom, single gender strategies for ELA, standards deconstruction and lesson alignment, and effective use of technology.
Jennifer received a BS in Education from Ohio University. She later earned a Master’s Degree from Gardner-Webb University in Executive Leadership Studies. Jennifer has completed additional training in the areas of Reading Recovery, LETRS, Gifted and Talented and literacy instruction K-12. She is currently continuing her education at Gardner-Webb University in the Ed.D. program for Curriculum and Instruction.
Jerry T. Mitchell, Ph.D.
Instructional Consultant
Jerry T. Mitchell, Ph.D. is Department Chair and a Professor of Geography. He has been the Director of the Center of Excellence for Geographic Education since joining the department in 2004. He has authored more than seventy-five articles and book chapters, with work appearing in the journals Natural Hazards Review, Environmental Hazards, Cartography and GIS, The Geography Teacher, and the Annals of the American Association of Geographers. This work was made possible by more than $5 million in external funding from the National Science Foundation, Verizon Foundation, National Geographic Society, the South Carolina Department of Education, and others. He was the coordinator of the South Carolina Geographic Alliance for 17 years, providing geography learning opportunities for more than 40,000 teachers and students.
Additionally, he served as the Editor of the Journal of Geography from 2010–2019, was President of the National Council for Geographic Education in 2020 and was awarded the 2022 Gilbert H. Grosvenor Honors in Geographic Education from the American Association of Geographers.
Jessica Elfenbein, Ph.D.
Instructional Consultant
A graduate of Barnard College, George Washington University, and the University of Delaware, Jessica Elfenbein, Ph.D. is professor and chair of the Department of History at the University of South Carolina. The belief that history has the power to be a productive tool of community building moved Jessica to become an historian and has informed and enriched her work in the fields of American and public history. Her career has been a satisfying combination of teaching, scholarship, and administration.
Elfenbein came to USC in 2012 after 17 years at the University of Baltimore where she directed Baltimore ’68: Riots and Rebirth which won highest program honors from both the National Council on Public History and the American Association of State and Local Historians. Jessica’s current project, Wood Basket of the World: Lumbering, Manufacturing, and Conserving South Carolina’s Forests, is a multi-faceted set of initiatives including oral histories, a travelling exhibit, a new anthology, archival collections and more that will help us to shift the narrative of our place by better telling the story of one of the state’s largest industries that has, until recently, been largely hidden in plain sight.
Jessica Elfenbein is delighted to be part of the team working with the talented social studies educators in Darlington and Sumter counties. She is especially interested in helping teachers create and support community-based research projects.
Tempestt S. Johnson
Education Course Instructor
Tempestt S. Johnson is a dedicated educator and a lifelong learner. With a passion for literature, literacy, and languages, Tempestt began her career as an English teacher, inspiring students with her infectious enthusiasm for the written word. Her dynamic teaching style and ability to connect with students on a personal level earned her admiration and respect from students, faculty members, and stakeholders alike.
Driven by her thirst for knowledge, Tempestt decided to embark on a new academic journey. She is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Language and Literacy. Tempestt’s research focuses on the Critical examination of the intersection between the lived experience of Black women and girls, African American Language, and dance, exploring what Black girls and women are intending to communicate through movement.
Beyond the academic realm, Tempestt remains committed to fostering a love for literature and critical thinking. Through her leadership of an adult book club and book exchanges with groups of Black women, she continues to share in literacy experiences, exploring the connections between luxury and Black women’s literacy practices. Tempestt S. Johnson is not just a former English teacher; she is a scholar shaping the future of literacy discourse.
Madeline Steiner, Ph.D.
History Course Instructor
Madeline Steiner is a Postdoctoral Fellow working with the university’s Founding Documents initiative. Her research focuses on the history of capitalism and popular culture in the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Her book project, The Robber Barons of Show Business: Traveling Amusements and the Development of the American Entertainment Industry, 1870-1920, explores how traveling amusements such as circuses and minstrel shows built the foundations of today’s multi-billion dollar commercial entertainment industry. She received her Ph.D. in history from the University of South Carolina, and BAs in history and musical theatre performance from American University.
Dave "Mac" Marquis, Ph.D.
History Course Instructor
Dave “Mac” Marquis is a Founding Documents Postdoctoral Fellow. He joined the department in 2022 after earning his Ph.D. from the College of William & Mary. Mac is the Book Review Editor for H-Labor, the Executive Assistant for the Labor and Working Class History Association and a former board member of the Southern Labor Studies Association. His work has primarily been focused on the timber industry of the South during Jim Crow and lies at the intersection of Labor, Environmental, and African American History. He is the co-editor of Books Through Bars: Stories from the Prison Books Movement (University of Georgia Press: Spring 2023) which will be the first edited volume to examine the origins and activities of this nation-wide social movement. He also has a graphic history in progress, Solidarity in the Jim Crow Piney Woods: A Graphic History of The Brotherhood of Timber Workers, 1910-1916 (The Historic New Orleans Collection) which details the history and legacy of one of the largest interracial unions in the Deep South during Jim Crow.
