Teacher shortage continues

By Mike Switzer

Published April 30, 2025 at 6:30 AM EDT

Kathy Maness, executive director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association

As we’ve discussed on this program for many years, our state has a persistent shortage of certified educators. And it continues this year. Our next guest says South Carolina started 2025 with over 1,000 unfilled teaching positions. Mike Switzer interviews Kathy Maness, executive director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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