“Raising Community Impact Leaders” is the  mission of Team Landolph, a local organization that promotes life-long learning for students.

Teresa Randolph, a co-founder of Team Landolph, believes in providing engaging opportunities for children to constructively and creatively make a difference in their community. She is a National Board Certified educator with 15 years of teaching experience in Lexington-Richland School District Five. Team Landolph was created when Randolph co-taught with Jennifer Layton, a teacher at Chapin Elementary School.

“We found that we held very similar core beliefs, and what we were able to make happen over our two years of teaming was inspirational," Randolph said. "We engaged students in real-world learning experiences and self-directed projects that moved beyond learning concepts to empowering them to see problems and possibilities and understand how to leverage their personal skills and collaborate to make things happen.”

One project in particular that has showcased students’ motivation and talents is Team Landolph’s pollinator garden. 

“When the kids decided to build a garden, a small group of students wrote an email and had me send it to the Chapin Garden Club. From there, we received advice and donations from families and put a few plants in the ground," Randolph said. "The next year, with the continued help of the Chapin Garden Club, we have now built that garden out with the help from many other sources including: Bolands Ace Hardware, Fidelis Family Retreat, SC Wildlife Federation, SC Native Plant Society, Audubon Society, SC Green Steps and generous family and community members. It has been transformed into a beautiful space that actually supported over 30 Monarchs last year. It just keeps getting better thanks to the vision of the Eaglet’s Making Impact Team.”

The group now has Impact Teams at three different schools: Chapin Elementary, Piney Woods Elementary and Chapin Intermediate School. Each school plans to expand garden projects with native plants that support pollinators.

“The project is also growing in environmental education as we work this year to involve even more guest experts and classes to utilize this space for workshops and engagements that provide hands-on learning for students outside in the gardens to help nature and wildlife, as well as to improve social-emotional health and sensory processing," Randolph said. "All things that are improved when they get outdoors and interact with nature!”

Team Landolph was presented with the Bud Lewandowski Young Philanthropists of the Year award from the Greater Chapin Community Foundation, and the Outstanding Elementary School Volunteer Group award at the District Five Community Involvement Celebration.

Watching students work together with a purpose that benefits the world around them is meaningful for Randolph.

“It has been so powerful to watch our community embrace these projects and help these teachers and students build the solutions to make our community even better," she said. "I believe when you invite others to come alongside you and work with you, it is an amazing experience of growth and connection for everyone involved."

Team Landolph’s most recent project is the Chapin’s Voices writing challenge. Entries should discuss sharing a small moment from your childhood, be 500-1,000 words long and are due by Oct. 25, 2024. More details are available on their website.

If you would like to support Team Landolph’s mission, there’s a multitude of ways to get involved. You can choose to be in charge of a team. Groups are guided by multiple leaders, include the help of a liaison from Team Landolph, and have flexible schedules. Students are encouraged to join a Team Landolph Community Impact Team at their participating school. Volunteers are always needed to help with projects and share their experiences and knowledge with the group, too. Lastly, Team Landolph welcomes donations and offers sponsorship opportunities ranging from $200 to $2,500.

Further information about Team Landolph can be found at teachingandlearninglive.com and their email is teamlandolph@gmail.com.