Carla M. Jefferson (@mrsjeff2u) is a 27 year veteran educator and currently is the founding principal of the Darlington County Virtual Academy for the Darlington County School District.
Her passion for technology and teaching has led her on the journey to assist her district in making the digital transformation. A former teacher, curriculum facilitator, district and school level administrator, Carla’s goal is to level the playing field for all children through the use of technology. She is a bonafide techie geek who loves to integrate technology into the curriculum, Carla flipped her classroom for 2 years in a 1:1 iPad classroom.
Carla’s work has been highlighted in several publications including ISTE Empowered Learner, Tech & Learning Magazine, EdSurge and District Administrator. She is an Apple Distinguished Educator; Apple Learning Specialist; Google for Education Certified Educator, Trainer, and Innovator; Remind Connected Educator and a member of the Remind Advisory Board; Class Dojo Ambassador, and a Code.org Facilitator. Carla was the 2016 Lead PBS Digital Innovator for South Carolina. She also serves as a member of the board of directors for SCAET as well as ISTE/ASCD. Carla currently serves as the chairman of the SCASA (South Carolina Association of School Administrators) Virtual Leaders Roundtable.
To get a glimpse of the DCSD Digital Transformation Initiative, search for #dcsdtransforms. To get a glimpse of the work of the Darlington County Virtual Academy, search for #dcvaproud.
Educational Philosophy
The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think – rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other men. ~Bill Beattie
Reading enriches our thoughts, widens our vision and enhances our knowledge. The more we read, the better our power expression in both written and spoken will be. An avid and voluminous reader is always filled with ideas and great thoughts to express himself on multiple and various subjects effectively and comprehensively.
The importance of reading permeates every level of education. To encourage reading is paramount. To restrict what is read is beyond comprehension. The importance of what we read is necessary to define. In particular, a broad knowledge base of all genres is crucial to a well-developed mind.
Personal Philosophy
If you are not a part of the solution– you are a part of the problem.
I could have been a lawyer or doctor – but I chose to educate them.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. – Reinhold Niebuhr
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson
