Next week, the Lowcountry Literacy Project (LLP) will pull back the curtain on the future of literacy in Charleston. On Tuesday, January 20, the Charleston Music Hall will host the premiere of The Rising Tide: Literacy in the Lowcountry, a powerful documentary following the teachers, families, and community leaders transforming how children learn to read.
While admission is free, registration is required and remaining tickets are limited. Members of the public and local leaders are encouraged to reserve their seats now at givebutter.com/therisingtide.
Transforming the Classroom
The film moves beyond statistics to show the real world impact of the "Science of Reading." Viewers will step inside Lowcountry classrooms to see how intensive teacher training and multisensory Orton-Gillingham-based instruction are closing the literacy gap.
In the film’s trailer (see below), local educators share the profound shifts they are experiencing. "My master's in literacy...did not prepare me to teach reading," explains Jenny Schaefer, a first grade teacher at James B. Edwards Elementary. She notes that while university programs often focus on theory, they frequently lack the systemic approaches needed to teach the mechanics of reading. Since adopting the LLP model, she adds, "I have all these different things in my toolbox that can help me...I know what I'm doing".
The documentary features poignant insights from local parents, including Bill Beckham, son of the late, legendary educator Lucy Beckham, who underscores the gravity of literacy by sharing his own family's struggle with a child who had difficulty reading. “If children do not learn to read, they are not going to have the opportunity to lead a full and productive life,” Beckham asserts in the film.
“This is a critical moment for our city,” said Lindsey Ballenger, Executive Director of the Lowcountry Literacy Project. “In one week, we will gather not just to watch a film, but to start a conversation about what becomes possible when we stop guessing and start giving teachers and students the tools that actually work.”
Following the screening, a panel of educators, parents and literacy advocates will discuss the state of literacy in South Carolina and how the Lowcountry Literacy Project is changing student outcomes featuring:
- Lindsey Ballenger, Executive Director, LLP
- Catherine Hagberg, Director of Training and Implementation, LLP
- Anita Huggins, Superintendent, Charleston County School District
- Beth Jacobs, Assistant Principal, Jennie Moore Elementary
- Stephen Thomas, Principal, St. Andrew’s School of Math and Science
- Emcee: Octavia Mitchell, Anchor, WCBD News 2
Event Details
- What: Premiere of The Rising Tide: Literacy in the Lowcountry + Panel Discussion
- When: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
- Time: Doors open at 5:00 p.m. (cash bar available) | Program: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street, Charleston, SC
- Tickets: Free admission; registration required at givebutter.com/therisingtide
- For more information, visit lowcountryliteracyproject.org.