Litmus Policy Solutions® Playbook | FY27
Our hub for engaging in hands-on policy learning to provide informed considerations. Agendas, decks, tools, resources, results, and next steps—all in one place, all year.
Start here
Everything a Litmus team member needs before they need it. If you find yourself emailing to ask a question, the answer probably belongs on this page. Tell us and we will put it here.
Exploration and discussion of the latest South Carolina data and related policy matters in every session.
Districts, higher education, associations, and agencies at the same table, on purpose.
One team, eight convenings, and multiple considerations addressing educator workforce and pipeline policy.
What Litmus produces
Litmus surfaces considerations grounded in South Carolina evidence. It does not take positions, issue endorsements, or lobby. That boundary is what lets a research consortium convene districts, higher education, associations, and agencies at the same table. Say it that way to your colleagues, and it will land.
The year at a glance
We level-set at orientation. Then, we spend three sessions on a deep dive into a policy topic(s). We'll repeat this approach in the three sessions that follow before showcasing and celebrating your learning and impact at the finale!
not a "conference" Tables of experienced leaders (you), this playbook, support staff (SC TEACHER), guest presenters, and think time to generate solutions
How we communicate
| Channel | Use it for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| This playbook | Anything you need to find again | Updated within 3 business days of every convening |
| SCTLitmus@mailbox.sc.edu | Logistics, scheduling, access | Reply within 1 business day |
| Pre-session email | Agenda, pre-work, what to bring | Sent 1 week ahead |
| Post-session email | Reminders, follow-ups, next steps | Sent within 2 business days after session |
Who is here
| Name | Role/title | District/organization |
|---|---|---|
| Litmus Policy Solutions team | ||
| Ms. Stephanie Ard | Superintendent | Dillon School District 3 (Latta Schools) |
| Dr. Heath Branham | Superintendent | York School District One |
| Dr. Lori Brownlee-Brewton | Superintendent | Abbeville County School District |
| Mr. Dee Christopher | Superintendent | Anderson School District 4 |
| Ms. Jessica Cody | School Board Trustee Vice Chair | Clover School District (York 2) |
| Mr. Jamie Costner | Director of Curriculum and Instruction | Charleston County School District |
| Mr. Jeff Duncan | Assistant Superintendent of Human Resource Services | School District of Pickens County |
| Dr. Deborah Elder | Superintendent | Rock Hill Schools (York 3) |
| Dr. Erica Fields | Director, Office of Federal and State Programs | Richland County School District One |
| Mr. Shane Goodwin | Superintendent | Greenwood School District 50 |
| Dr. Julie Gore Fowler | Superintendent | Spartanburg School District Three |
| Dr. Tria Grant | Director | CarolinaCAP, University of South Carolina |
| Dr. Tony Hemingway | Executive Director | Olde English Consortium |
| Mr. Eric Jeffcoat | Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools | Aiken County Public School District |
| Dr. Mellow Lee | Deputy Superintendent | Beaufort County School District |
| Mr. Bernard McDaniel | Superintendent | Lee County School District |
| Dr. David McDonald | Deputy Superintendent | Lexington School District Two |
| Ms. Jen Morrison | Senior Chief Academic Officer | Richland School District Two |
| Dr. Keith Price | Superintendent | Lexington County School District One |
| Dr. Cleo Richardson | Interim Executive Director | Pee Dee Education Center |
| Ms. Kelly Rivers | Deputy Superintendent | Richland County School District One |
| Ms. April Scott | Deputy Chief Academic Officer | Horry County Schools |
| Dr. Fay Sprouse | Executive Director | Western Piedmont Education Consortium |
| Dr. Shawn Suber | Superintendent | Florence School District Three |
| Dr. Lindsay Yearta | Associate Director | SC TEACHER |
| SC TEACHER team | ||
| Dr. P. Ann Byrd | Executive Director + Lead Strategist | panbyrd@mailbox.sc.edu |
| Ms. Kimberly Weber | Strategy + Operations Manager | kw157@mailbox.sc.edu |
| Dr. Angela Starrett | Director of Research | starrett@mailbox.sc.edu |
| Dr. Brian Cartiff | Research Lead for District Engagement + Applied Research | bcartiff@mailbox.sc.edu |
| Dr. Sandy Brossard | Field Consultant | brossars@mailbox.sc.edu |
If you miss a session
Three steps, in order. Review the agenda for the session you missed, browse the deck posted under Resources, then reach out to a facilitator to catch up before the next convening.
Orientation | SEP 17 & 18
Two days, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You arrive as 25 leaders with 25 vantage points. You leave as part of a team, with policy themes to ponder. You return in October to dive into data and discussions.
Zero solutions. September is for understanding where we are heading. Solutions start in October.
By the end of day 2, you will be able to...
Five priority areas to inform our policy conversations
You will consider options for us to work through in upcoming sessions.
| Priority | Where the conversation starts |
|---|---|
| The legislative process and "small p" politics | Sharpening understanding of how policy is made and who/what influence it. |
| The research to policy to practice cycle | Turning insights into informed policy, stronger practice, and implementation feedback. |
| The power of the "evidence meets story" and messaging | Drafting, crafting, and sharing stories of impact to influence policy. |
| The SC educator workforce pipeline | Considering the growing body of SC-specific research alongside existing policies. |
| The pathways to policy influence | Combining purpose, relationships, and evidence to drive meaningful change. |
Day 1 of 2
Arrive and connect
Coffee, and your welcome packet. Beverages and snacks as you meet and greet.
Welcome + framing the Litmus experience
Dr. P. Ann Byrd, Executive Director + Lead Strategist, on why SC TEACHER convenes Litmus, who’s in the room, what the team produces, and where the year lands in May. Then a short walk through of the next two days and how we will work together.
Big picture from USC Government Relations
Derrick Meggie, Director of State Government & Community Relations, USC, shares his “state of the state” perspective on our recent past year and what’s ahead in the near future.
Dr. Thomas E. Hodges, Dean of USC's College of Education, shares remarks.
Lunch
Enjoy lunch while networking with colleagues
The big picture of educator workforce pipeline research
Dr. Angela Starrett, SC TEACHER’s Director of Research, shares compelling evidence of how the expanding data infrastructure of SC TEACHER is challenging anecdotes and shifting the narrative regarding South Carolina’s educator pipeline.
BREAK
Our 18-month pilot: What did we do? What did we learn?
Dr. Sheila Quinn, Superintendent of Clover School District and Litmus pilot participant, highlights our pilot experience and what became of it.
Organizing our work for the year ahead…
Wrapping the day with time to access tools, set protocols, accept calendar invites, ask questions, and reflect a bit on today.
Adjourn (maybe sooner)
Day 2 of 2
Arrive and connect
Coffee, and your day 2 info. Beverages and snacks as you reconnect.
Welcome back
Dr. P. Ann Byrd kicks off day 2 with a brief overview of what’s ahead. Are you sitting in the same chair you were in yesterday? Just wondering.
Headings, subheadings, and messaging
Dr. Sandy Brossard, Field Consultant for SC TEACHER, will guide participants in applying professional inquiry and message discipline to examine assumptions, missing context, and framing. We'll raise our awareness of how messages can shape perceptions and influence policy decisions often before underlying evidence is fully examined.
Considering policy topics of interest for our work
We’ve asked around about what’s on the minds of policy influencers and policymakers. And, we want to know what’s on your mind as well. We will consider a short list of timely SC educator pipeline-related topics for an area(s) of focus.
Lunch
Enjoy lunch while networking with colleagues
The making of a policy nerd
Reba Campbell, President of the Medway Group, provides history and insights about our legislature and legislators. You’ll have hands on time to learn more about accessing resources related to SC politics and politicians.
BREAK
Closing thoughts, next steps, feedback
Wrapping day two with time to revisit tools, protocols, and dates ahead. Questions? Let’s chat. Feedback? We want that, too.
Adjourn (maybe sooner)
What happens next
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 3 business days after we adjourn | Post-session email with summary, next steps | SC TEACHER |
| 1 week prior to next session | Pre-session email with prep steps and reminders of what’s ahead | SC TEACHER |
| As needed | Contact SC TEACHER team members with questions, ideas, etc. | Litmus team members |
Agendas
Posted one week ahead of each convening and archived here afterward.
Orientation | SEP 17 & 18
Day 1 of 2
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:30 | Arrive and connect |
| 10:00 | Welcome + framing the Litmus experience |
| 11:30 | Big picture from USC Government Relations |
| 12:15 | Enjoy lunch while networking with colleagues |
| 1:00 | The big picture of educator workforce pipeline research |
| 2:45 | Our 18-month pilot: What did we do? What did we learn? |
| 3:15 | Organizing our work for the year ahead… |
| 4:00 | Adjourn (maybe sooner) |
Day 2 of 2
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:30 | Arrive and connect |
| 10:00 | Welcome back |
| 10:15 | Headings, subheadings, and messaging |
| 11:30 | Considering policy topics of interest for our work |
| 12:15 | Enjoy lunch while networking with colleagues |
| 1:00 | The making of a policy nerd |
| 3:15 | Closing thoughts, next steps, feedback |
| 4:00 | Adjourn (maybe sooner) |
Resources
Decks/handouts from sessions
Posted PDF within 3 business days of each convening, so you can revisit info without asking us for it.
| Convening | Decks/handouts | Brief description |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | SEP 17 & 18 | Anchor deck | Everything the SC TEACHER team presented across the 2 days, from welcome and framing through research, reflection, and next steps. |
| Orientation | SEP 17 & 18 | The big picture of educator workforce pipeline research | Dr. Angela Starrett, SC TEACHER’s Director of Research, shares compelling evidence of how the expanding data infrastructure of SC TEACHER is challenging anecdotes and shifting the narrative regarding South Carolina’s educator pipeline. |
| Orientation | SEP 17 & 18 | Big picture from USC Government Relations | Derrick Meggie, the USC Director of State Government & Community Relations, shares his “state of the state” perspective on our recent past year and what’s ahead in the near future. |
| Orientation | SEP 17 & 18 | The making of a policy nerd | Reba Campbell, the President of the Medway Group, provides history and insights about our legislature and legislators. |
| Sessions 1.1 onward populate here following each convening. | ||
Tools
Dignity Index, Systems Thinking, and protocols we run.
- Dignity IndexThe Dignity Index scores distinct phrases along an eight-point scale from contempt to dignity. Lower scores (1–4) reflect divisive language while higher scores (5–8) reflect language grounded in dignity. (Source: website)
- Systems ThinkingThe Habits of a Systems Thinker help learners understand how systems work and how actions taken can impact results seen over time. They encompass a spectrum of strategies that foster problem-solving and encourage questioning.
- Protocols we runMore to come as our work progresses
Featured SC TEACHER research
Start here for anything South Carolina specific. This is the evidence base the whole year runs on.
- Top Ten Findings, FY26The fastest way into the current picture. Twenty minutes.
- Educator Pipeline ResearchRecruitment, preparation, and retention across the state.
- Educator Workforce ProfilesWho teaches where—by geography and school poverty level.
- Educator Working ConditionsTeacher and administrator surveys on resources, demands, and satisfaction.
- SC Teacher Exit SurveyWhy teachers leave a position or the profession.
- District Support ResourcesTools and protocols for turning survey data into district decisions.
Look it up
- District LandscapeDistrict-level data. Useful when you need your own numbers fast.
- Data EcosystemInteractive visualizations of South Carolina's educator workforce trends.
- Report LibraryEverything the consortium has published, searchable.
- GlossaryShared definitions. Worth a look before your first brief.
- ToolkitsPractical guides built for district and school leaders.
Listen up
More to come as our work progresses
National-focused resources
- Education Commission of the StatesECS provides personalized support and services to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories to help education leaders gain the insight and experience needed to create effective education policy for their constituents. Their expertise spans across the spectrum from early care and education to workforce development. (Source: website)
- ExcelinEDFocused on educational quality, innovation and opportunity—both within and outside of the traditional system—ExcelinEd advances a broad range of student-centered policy solutions to increase student learning, eliminate inequities, and ready graduates for college and career.
Reflect
We change the next agenda based on what’s most critical to advance our conversations, informed by what we hear from you. That is not a courtesy line. Sessions are built on this feedback.
When time allows, we will consider some version of these questions out loud, in real time:
- What is one thing you now know or believe that you did not this morning?
- What question are you holding that may be worth putting in the room?
- What evidence did you hear today that you’d like to hear more about?
- What surprised you today?
- What do you need from us before the next session?
What’s next
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 3 business days after we adjourn | Session materials and promised follow-up info posted to this playbook |
| 1 week prior to next session | Upcoming agenda posted to this playbook |