Isaiah Gillian’s Journey to Inspire

For Isaiah Gillian, a graduating senior majoring in secondary education, teaching is more than just a career; it's his true passion, and he's determined to pursue it wholeheartedly.

Originally from Spartanburg, SC, Gillian says the main reason he chose the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) was for the Teaching Fellows Program. “I first learned about the program in high school,” he explained, recalling how one of his teachers encouraged him to apply. “I did mock interviews with several of the Teaching Fellow schools in South Carolina, but I really connected with the one here, and that’s when I decided USCA would be my top choice.”

The South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program is a fellowship for qualified South Carolina students who wish to pursue a degree in education and a career in South Carolina’s public schools. The program launched at USCA in 2015, marking its tenth year at the university.

“As a part of Teaching Fellows, we are required to be in the classroom our first semester. A lot of education majors don’t get that opportunity until their second semester or even their second year,” Gillian said.

Gillian’s participation in the Teaching Fellows program has provided him with numerous opportunities, including roles as the program’s social media coordinator during his junior and senior years, a mentor for freshman students, an event planner for the Residential Housing Association, a writer for the student publication Pacer Times, and a member of the Pacer Union Board, which oversees campus entertainment for students.

Gillian says his involvement in extracurricular activities has influenced his teaching style.  

It was around his tenth-grade year in high school, Gillian said he knew teaching was an area he wanted to focus on. “I took inspiration from the great teachers around me while trying my best to show my students that I’m there for them.”

His favorite subject in English to teach is Gothic fiction, a horror genre consisting of authors like Edgar Allan Poe. “I loved the content that I was reading within the gothic literature genre, stories like The Yellow Wallpaper, written by Charlotte Gilman, were really good.”

Gillian says one of his favorite English courses was Content Area Reading and Writing during the fall of 2024, taught by Dr. Michelle Rasheed, an assistant professor of teacher education literacy at USCA. “She is a phenomenal instructor here on campus. Since I was the only student in the class, we catered the course towards my interests, and it became so much fun.”

The course inspired Gillian to publish his second research article in the South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Journal. His research explores advocating for interdisciplinary education to support students. His most recent publication, “A Review of Three Verse Novels”, covers three verse novels and provides recommendations based upon his research for integrating verse in the classroom. Additionally, Gillian’s work has been featured in Broken Ink, a student-produced visual and literary arts magazine that highlights the creativity of USCA students.                 

Right now, Gillian is currently interning at Aiken High School, teaching English to 10-12th grades under the direction of Emily Geyer, who teaches English at the high school. “It has been a phenomenal experience for me. Mrs. Geyer has truly been a great teacher to learn from, she carries herself in such a great manner. A lot of what she’s taught me, I apply to my teaching style.”

Gillian was even awarded for his accomplishments with the South Carolina Council for Teachers of English: Rising Rookie of the Year and South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Teacher Candidate to Watch.

After graduation, Gillian will be teaching 7th-grade English at D. R. Hill Middle School in Lyman, SC. 

Gillian, along with 410 degree candidates, will graduate during USCA’s annual Commencement on Wednesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.