Irmo, SC - River Springs Elementary School principal Melanie Cohen has been selected along with 16 other educators to participate in the South Carolina Education Policy Fellowship Program (SC-EPFP) for 2017-18.

“I am honored to be a part of the Education Policy Fellowship Program this year,” Cohen said. “The opportunity to connect and reflect with other leaders at both the state and national level will impact my work at River Springs and the greater community. Education policy is important work, as it has far-reaching impact on the opportunities for students and communities across the state, and I am excited to be a part of the policy conversation.”

SC-EPFP is a 10-month intensive professional development program for established and emerging leaders in education and related fields to help equip them in working toward sound education policy and practice in South Carolina. SC-EPFP Fellows participate in a variety of activities that promote leadership, develop professional networks, demystify education policy, and foster a greater understanding of the roles of government and the community.

“This year’s SC-EPFP class is composed of some of the most talented and dedicated leaders in our state,” said Robert Barnett, Chief Operating Officer for the SC Chamber of Commerce and SC-EPFP Advisory Board Chair. “Through the program they will develop added insights, acquire new professional skills, make valuable connections, and work collaboratively to take proactive steps for South Carolina’s future through meaningful education improvement and reform.”

Fellows will meet monthly throughout the academic year for full-day dialogues, exercises and group projects, in addition to an overnight in-state Fall Leadership Forum and a four-day Washington Policy Seminar hosted by the Institute for Educational Leadership in the spring.

For additional information on the SC Education Policy Fellowship Program, visit the SC-EPFP page online at http://sic.sc.gov/Pages/SCEducationPolicyFellowshipProgram.aspx.