Lowcountry organizers hosting 1st “Teacherfest” for educator wellness, resources

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) – A new event is getting educators ready for the next school year in line with Teacher Appreciation Week.
The weeklong series of events, called “Teacherfest” kicks off Monday.
The free event hosts opportunities each day of the week that are geared toward wellness and community building for educators.
The events fall in line with Teacher Appreciation Week, from May 5 to May 9. Food trucks as well as local businesses also plan to participate.
Monday’s event takes place at Flight Adventure Park with free admission for teachers and a $5 charge for family members from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday is a community walk through Azalea Park from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday includes wellness opportunities such as massages and B12 shots at Ritual Rooftop from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday is a trivia event called, “Are You Smarter Than a Teacher” at Red Palm Tavern from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday includes teacher contract discussions with the South Carolina Education Association at Firefly Distillery from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sara Toppe, a fourth grade teacher at Angel Oak Elementary School, created the idea of Teacherfest in 2023. Toppe used social media to create a teacher wellness community in an effort to emphasize educator mental health awareness.
Toppe says the idea is to bring resources to teachers that may not know how to get help otherwise.
“Educators are here for the children,” Toppe says. “And my message is I want us all to be here for the children and I want us all also to be here for ourselves. I think that we’ll be better serving our students if we better serve ourselves.”
The South Carolina Education Association plans to take part in Friday’s event to discuss with teachers about their contracts for the next school year. Leaders are advocating for new teacher contracts before many teachers sign the dotted line this month.
Leaders say current teacher contracts do not specify salary, where they are going to teach or what will be taught. Association leaders are supporting a bill that currently sits on the state House floor called the Educator Assistance Act.
The bill would require districts to notify teachers about the job assignments no later than 14 days before the school year, as well as an estimated minimum salary in teacher contracts which they would still have to sign in mid-May.
Toppe hopes the community building event will help educators connect on any issues they face in their careers.
“It’s so important for teachers to understand they’re not alone in what they’re going through,” Toppe says. “And there’s other teachers that are also living in this… that are struggling to pay their bills because of the money that they’re making or they’re working so many hours because they’re working in an area where the students have really high needs and they want to support them.”
The events are open to the public, but any discounts are exclusive to participating teachers. Leaders say registration is urged to be completed before any participation. Sign up information is on the organization website.
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