Cool Teacher: Dr. Charles Magwood

He is a master at melodies with a mission. Sangaree Elementary School music teacher Dr. Charles Magwood is helping students reach all the right notes, building relationships and character through music. He’s our Cool School Teacher of the week. Dr. Magwood’s approach continues to strike a chord with students, staff, and administrators.

Music with purpose fills the air at Sangaree Elementary, all thanks to music teacher Dr. Charles Magwood. “Sangaree Elementary makes me successful. I’ve been acknowledged and appreciated but it’s different when you feel needed,” says Magwood. From Varnville, South Carolina, Dr. Magwood has been a teacher for 12 years, in North Carolina and South Carolina. It’s been an emotional journey. He says, “I lost my mom a year ago, that’s why I’m in South Carolina. I’ve been teaching in North Carolina for years. My mom was fighting cancer, so I came down to try to help her, and we lost her. I was thinking, I’m going to stay here. These kids need me, but I realized I needed the kids. I need this team. This team is like family.”

Dr. Magwood has served as the music teacher at Sangaree for six months, a Title-One school with 700 students in 4K through 2nd grade. Magwood has a Doctorate in transformational leadership, focused on working with at-risk children. “I was a child at risk, and if it were not for my teachers and family, I don’t know where I would be. When I think of these children, I think of those same things. I owe it to them to give to them what I received to be successful in life,” he says.

Dr. Magwood wrote a new school song for Sangaree and taught the song to all students.  The song teaches the students how to shine, like the school’s star mascot.  He says, “I knew I had a passion for music and for being a father.  A lot of teachers can agree, sometimes we’re like parents. I grew up with a saying that my family taught me, I’ve become all things.  I’ve become all things to all men, that I might save some, and when I think about my students and what we have to become, sometimes you’re a parent, sometimes you’re a coach, a big brother.  As educators, we all do anything we have to do just to try to meet those students to the best of our ability.”

Dr. Magwood is also an accomplished musician. Magwood works to keep the entire school moving to the beat of their own drums. The Sangaree Teacher of the Year has a special connection with students. Sangaree Elementary principal Tara Baker says, “Dr. Magwood just brings life to our school. He is not only an inspiration to our students, but to our staff members. He has encouraged me to be a better leader each day. He just brings his passion for music into life for students, engaging lessons, from the laughter in the room to singing, he’s just a great human being for students. He gives back to everybody.” 

Assistant principal Rusty Boston says, “Music is second to what he does for us. He has taken our environment and climate to another level. Look at what he’s done with the community for Sangaree, constantly going out for different programs and takes the kids with him and they perform. He’s developed after-school programs we didn’t have. He has his drum circle, he has chorus, and kids are just excited all the time just being around him.”

Dr. Magwood encourages students to set the bar high. Second-grade student Alexandria Gay says, “He’s the best and he inspires me to do music and sing along with everybody. He makes everybody’s mind blow up because he’s so smart.” Second-grade student Franklin Arce says, “He always makes everyone happy, and he inspires me to be the best.”

Dr. Magwood was nominated by his leadership team. He says he is thankful for the support he receives from his administrative team, colleagues, and Berkeley County School District leaders.   “I’ve been acknowledged and appreciated, but it’s different when you feel needed. It’s humbling, and it motivates you to continue to do your best. It shows you that hard work pays off. For me, it’s more powerful for the students to see this. From day one, I’ve been teaching them to shine, to be safe, honorable, innovative, nice, engaged and I try to live by it, and when you see the fruits of my labor, I can tell the kids, this is what happens when you do your best, when you’re moral, when you work hard, and when you’re dedicated. This is more of a victory for my kids, so happy they got to see something like this.”

Giving it all to help students develop a love for learning through lyrics. “I can say mom, this is what I’m doing. I’m trying to take care of the kids the way you took care of me.”

If you would like to nominate a Cool School, teacher, or principal, send an email to Octavia Mitchell at [email protected].