Palmetto NavigatEd is powered by Palmetto Promise Institute, a 501(c)3 organization. We exist to put opportunity and success within reach of every K-12 student in South Carolina through a quality education that fits their needs so they can experience the American Dream. We were founded out of the work started with the South Carolina School Choice Alliance and MySCEducation. We expanded to become Palmetto NavigatEd to better serve parents, providers, the public – and ultimately the students and families of South Carolina.
In South Carolina, we’re proud of our roots and our culture. We hope to see our children put down roots here. That’s why we’re committed to creating a state where opportunity and success are in reach for all our children.
Every South Carolina child experiences a K-12 education that fits their unique needs and prepares them for a future of opportunity and success.
To empower parents to give their child a K-12 education that meets their needs and to support providers to create a vibrant market of high-quality education options to serve South Carolina students and families.
ESTF Implementation Coordinator
Teshia McIver is passionate about helping families and community partners understand what school choice really means—and giving them the tools, resources, and confidence to navigate their options and make informed decisions for their children’s education.
Her experience spans the full education landscape, including work with traditional public schools, charter schools, higher education institutions, government agencies, and grassroots organizations. That broad perspective helps her meet families where they are and support them as they explore the path that fits their child best.
As an “Army Brat,” Teshia experienced the challenges of frequent moves and unstable schooling firsthand, long before school choice options existed. Those early experiences shaped both her advocacy and her parenting.
When raising her own son in the Aiken area, Teshia intentionally created a personalized educational journey for him—drawing on early reading intervention, homeschooling, and both public and choice-based school settings. Through her K-12 experience, she realized her greatest impact comes from working directly with families and educators to help them confidently navigate the education system and find what works best for each child.
President & CEO, Palmetto Promise Institute
Wendy Damron leads Palmetto Promise Institute and its school choice initiatives with a clear mission: helping South Carolina families understand their education options and access the opportunities that fit their children best. Under her leadership, PPI has become the state’s trusted hub for navigating private, charter, homeschool, and out-of-district public school choices, as well as the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program.
Since becoming CEO in 2023, Wendy has guided major wins for educational freedom, launched the ESA Families Rescue Fund to support students during the recent court setback, expanded parent outreach, and built strong partnerships with schools and education providers across the state. She is committed to making school choice simple, accessible, and empowering for every South Carolina family.
