Teacher of the Year Nominee

Vicki Shockley is a 6th, 7th and 8th grade Resource Teacher at Wright Middle School in Abbeville. Vicki inspires her students by encouraging them to always do the best they can. She uses humor and puzzles to diffuse potentially frustrating situations. Ms. Shockley's wonderful sense of humor is evident in the story she shares about an almost-embarrassing situation at school - walking out of the restroom with her skirt hem tucked into her waistband! - that she avoided with the help of the school custodian.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Lader tells her students that 'learning a foreign language can open up a whole new world for them.' For 23 years, Ms. Lader has been demonstrating this through her own enthusiasm for instructing students at Aiken High School - grades 9 through 12 - in the German language.

(how do you say, ""Thank you, Ms. Lader"" in German?)

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Polite tries to live by example and teach as many life lessons as possible to her students. A graduate of USC Aiken and a teacher for 8 years - Ms. Polite is most inspired by her students' desire to learn and their ability to change positively.

On a personal note - Ms. Polite loves to sing!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Jennifer Anderson, Anderson School District 1’s teacher of the year, calls teaching her passion.

Selected from 13 candidates throughout the district, the English language arts and social studies teacher at Palmetto Middle School is seeking her second master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of Cincinnati.

“Jennifer Anderson is an excellent choice for Anderson 1’s teacher of the year,” said Wayne Fowler, superintendent for District 1. “She is a teacher with a servant’s heart. She models by example through serving others. Her passion for teaching is evident through the care and concern she has for all of her students. She is a role model for teachers across the district and state.”

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Patty Barrett inspires her 5th grade Language Arts & Social Studies students by building positive relationships with them. She believes in leading by example. Ms. Barrett is inspired by her students when she sees them growing intellectually, emotionally and when she sees them overcome personal obstacles to become the best they can be.

One little-known fact about Ms. Barrett is that she likes to ride motorcycles!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Jennifer Smith is a kindergarten teacher at Mt. Lebanon Elementary and has been a teacher for 13 years. Jennifer's dedication to make learning fun and the personal attention she provides to students inspires them. She makes learning relevant and engaging for her students by incorporating movement and cheers into lessons.

On a personal level, Jennifer has achieved life changing goals of her own. She walked into a gym 75 lbs overweight and not only succeeded in an exercise plan of her own - she's now inspiring others as an aerobics instructor.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Currently in his sixth year of teaching with District 5, Chad Allen is a seventh-grade science teacher at Southwood Middle School, where he has taught his entire career. Chad believes in his students and provides them with high expectations. He is inspired by the way his students battle adversity daily and, despite this, they work hard and display positive attitudes.

If you're at a Clemson sports event you might run into Mr. Allen. He even travels to see Clemson football, baseball and basketball!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Jacobs and her class strive to establish a 'school family' where they encourage and help each other learn. She inspires her students by making learning fun and celebrating all the different talents and abilities in their Kindergarten community. She is also inspired daily when she sees her students enjoying working, learning and playing together.

Ms. Jacobs has taught for 38 years and resides with her 83-year-old mother in a retirement community where she truly fits in with all the 'young minds' - singing and leading the Good News Club there!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. James is a Kindergarten-6 Resource teacher at Macedonia Elementary where she and her students make learning fun. Ms. James believes in getting to know her students on a personal level. She is not afraid of letting her students see her fun side which includes a love of travel, shopping and making others smile.

Another interesting fact about Ms. James is that she's from Norway! (Norway, South Carolina that is.)

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Queen inspires her students in 10th and 12th grade English classes by developing relationships with them and holding them responsible for their learning. She says her students inspire her with their energy & enthusiasm for learning.

It sounds like Ms. Queen is the one with energy & enthusiasm - she finished her first 10K run this year!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

From Brooklyn, New York to teaching 5th grade Math & Science, Ms. Holloway tries to inspire her students through her love for them and belief in their abilities. She lets them know that failure is not an option in her classroom and working together they can achieve many things.

Ms. Holloway appreciates the joy that funny things in life have to offer. She sometimes laughs at herself and doesn't mind when her students occasionally join in.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Wynn teaches all subjects to her first grade class and says she & her students work hard to make connections with each other, with what they are learning and with the world around them. She is grateful to work in a field that inspires her through both her students and other teachers.

Through 26 years of teaching Ms. Wynn has loved to walk, garden and read.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Wimmer believes that inspiring students to learn is easy when learning becomes relevant to their lives and when she connects with them on a personal level. She is inspired, daily, through her students' smiles, questions and enthusiasm. As a third grade teacher at Boulder Bluff, Ms. Wimmer is in her 4th year of teaching.

She also married her high school sweetheart and they're still happily married!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Pinnex is a 27-year veteran teacher and currently teaches 11th grade US History at Calhoun County High School. She encourages her students that they are bright and capable and says they never fail to inspire her and make her day in some way.

You might catch Ms. Pinnex in your neighborhood - dressed like a self-confessed bag lady and turning drab, blossomless yards into manicured, designer creations. Much like teaching!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

""Great performances are the result of endless hours of rehearsal, ""says Ms. Winkles. She should know as a veteran (21 years) 9th - 12th grade drama teacher. She tries to inspire her students to work hard in order to produce excellent results.

Ms. Winkles' mother and sister were both Teacher of the Year finalists in Charleston - it truly does run in the family!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

The students in Ms. Simmons' class agree - learning is all about creating a safe, tranquil family environment that is filled with love & support. Ms. Simmons teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade Math and has also been teaching for 8 years.

An interesting fact about Ms. Simmons is that she wears something red at least 360 days a year!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Powers tries her best to build a genuine trust with each child in her 4th and 5th Literacy - Response to Intervention classes, and that seems to inspire them with the power to learn. In turn, she's filled with unending inspiration at the possibilities of just how much they can learn.

Ms. Powers acts in community theatre where her favorite role has been 'Audrey' in Little Shop of Horrors. Her friends tell her she makes the perfect 'dirty blonde'

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Robinson is a 4th grade Math & Science teacher with the power to inspire her students by teaching toward their personal learning styles. She makes learning fun by using games & hands-on materials. Ms. Robinson's students inspire her with their eagerness to learn and the excitement they show when they come to school.

Though most people think she's shy, Ms. Robinson loves meeting new people!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

A sure sign that she's taught chorus for 25 years - Ms. Drawdy's secret to inspiring her students is to listen, listen, listen. She and her students respect one another and by working together they accomplish great things.

No surprise that such a classy teacher would have a love for classic movies!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Rix uses personal stories, humor and music to inspire her students. In turn, her 4th grade students inspire her with their love of learning and their hard work.

Ms. Rix has taught school for 13 years, lived in Alaska for 4 years and she is a recording star - recording a CD called ""Charleston Rose"" with her dad before he passed away.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Eric Stamey has been teaching for nearly 15 years and currently teaches English, reading and language arts to students in grades 6-12 at the Willow Lane School, which is part of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.

Eric tries to inspire his students by bringing the arts into the English classroom because he believes that creativity drives individuality and creates a spirit of unity while allowing for diversity. This outlook could be due to the fact that, when Eric was in 7th grade, he received a recording contract for a rap song that he wrote in his language arts class.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Coach Shirl Carter is a Dillon High School graduate. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Erskine College in Due West, S.C., and her Master of Science degree in Physical Education from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C.

Coach Carter has been at JV Martin Jr. High for nine years, where she currently teaches physical education/health and coaches junior varsity volleyball and varsity softball.

In her spare time Coach Carter loves to read, write, and work logic puzzles. She has three cats named Fancy, Cruise, and Summitt.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Sloan is recognized by all the 6th - 8th grade students at Latta Middle School. She is their school guidance counselor! She tries to get to know each student personally so she can encourage them in unique ways. Ms. Sloan says she is encouraged by so many of her students who overcome daily struggles.

And Ms. Sloan's hidden talent? Tap Dancing - which she says can come in handy some days!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Varnadoe encourages her students, believes in them, motivates them and shows them the importance of community by way of example. Her students inspire her with their thirst for knowledge and their ability to teach her new and exciting life lessons.

Ms. Varnadoe compared herself to Nemo in Finding Nemo during her student teaching presentation - Just keep swimming no matter what hurdles life throws at you!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Johnson captures the imaginations of her Early Childhood Development class (4-year olds) through innovative lessons. She strives to inspire them to become life-long learners.

Her students inspire her with the excitement they display and the twinkle in their eyes when they learn a new concept.

Ms. Johnson has also visited 42 of the 50 states and has yet to meet a stranger!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Mr. Chard teaches Math, Geometry, Pre-Calculus and Stats + Probabilities to 10th - 12th grade students. He says that disabilities and disadvantages should magnify success, rather than limit it. His students inspire him to laugh, live like a kid and to love unconditionally.

He also inspires students outside of class. Mr. Chard, also an ordained minister, operates a Rescue Horse Ranch for the Humane Society and is the parent of a Children's Miracle Network, miracle kid!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Linda Floyd has been teaching for 30 years, and she currently teaches kindergarten at Hannah Pamplico Elementary/Middle School. She continues to find new ways to teach her children, and, when she learns new strategies and techniques, she cannot wait to use them in her classroom! Furthermore, Floyd finds it very important to show her students how much she cares about them and for her assistants to give the students a great deal of praise for each new skill mastered.

Floyd feels inspired by the way that, in a kindergarten classroom, every day at school is as exciting as the first day. Her students are always eager to learn, and they inspire her to be as excited about teaching as they are about learning.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Mary Godwin is a middle school teacher at J. Paul Truluck Middle and has been teaching for almost 30 years. Mary uses music and motion to motivate and help students remember math processes. She is inspired by her students' desire to learn. When her students use her music/motion strategy, she feels as though she is really teaching.

Mary's favorite song to teach steps in solving multi-problem equations is George Strait's ""All My Exes Live in Texas.""

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Tracey Bynum is a ninth grade high school teacher at Timmonsville High and has been teaching for seven years. Tracey inspires her students by first making a connection with them and building on that relationship. By knowing she truly cares about them, her students are willing to learn at their best level. Tracey's students inspire her to continually grow in her profession as a teacher.

On a personal level, Tracey has a loving dog that just so happens to have only one eye.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Donnell Mace is a special needs teacher at Johnsonville Middle. She has been teaching for almost 30 years. Donnell inspires her students by encouraging them to think ""outside the book."" By setting examples for others to follow, she educates her students on the importance of being an inspiration for those around them.

Donnell has taught special needs children her entire teaching career.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Kelly Nalley is a second-fifth grade Spanish teacher at Fork Shoals Elementary. She has been teaching for 13 years. Kelly inspires her students to learn a foreign language by actively engaging them in her lessons. Her students speak, sing, dance and act out Spanish words and lessons each day. In return, they inspire her with their boundless enthusiasm and never-ending curiosity.

While completing a Spanish summer study abroad program, Kelly lived with a family in Costa Rica.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Debra Kelly teaches 11th grade English at Ninety Six High School. She has been teaching for 16 years. Debra inspires her students to learn, laugh and grow by treating them with the same respect she wants in return. Her students learn in a positive environment and are encouraged to do and be their best each day.

In her free time, Debra loves playing tennis.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Tracey is an early childhood educator at Brunson Elementary School and has been teaching for 15 years. She loves her students like they were her own children. She greets them with hugs and smiles every morning as they walk through her classroom door. Her students inspire her each day when they show her their determination to learn.

Tracey also enjoyed teaching when she was a young child. She appeared on Sesame Street when she was six years old and counted to ten with

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Pamela is a high school English teacher at Estill High School and has been teaching for nine years. She spends a great deal of time with her students outside of class and considers them to be like her own children. Her students inspire her with their determination to succeed despite the odds. They are constantly showing her support and devotion. She uses this encouragement to instruct them on a daily basis.

On a personal note, Pamela is a Marine and former construction insulator for Savannah River Plant. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Education Leadership.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ivy teaches mathematics at Star Academy, and has been teaching for over 30 years. She thanks her students every day for allowing her to teach. They are aware of her care and concern for them and their education. Ivy's students inspire her by the response to the ever-evolving learning process.

In her spare time, Ivy enjoys planning parties, activities and events for friends, co-workers and students. She takes pride in making happy memories.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Melody Johnson teaches fourth grade at Lugoff Elementary and has been teaching for 15 years. She does whatever it takes to motivate and encourage her students to love learning. From turning her classroom into the ""Johnson Jungle"" she sings, dances, uses drama and technology in her classroom to help students thrive. She is inspired by her students every day who overcome all kinds of obstacles to give their best.

Melody loves to run in her spare time. She and her husband run Charleston's Cooper River Bridge Run every year.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Karen Dingler teaches eighth grade Language Arts at Buford Middle and has been teaching for 18 years. She always greets her students with a smile at the door and enjoys laughing with them during their lessons. She loves listening to their stories and celebrates with them in their learning experiences. Her students inspire her to be someone worthy of respect and admiration.

Karen once played Annie Oakley in the musical ""Annie Get Your Gun.""

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Randy is a fourth grade math and science teacher at Laurens Elementary School. He has been teaching for four years. He inspires his students through fun, hands-on and motivating lessons. He uses his imagination to incorporate fun and interactive learning methods that encourage his students to push themselves and do their best. His students inspire him through their hard work and effort each and every day.

In his spare time, Randy loves reading and spending time with his family.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Vicki is a food and nutrition instructor for high school students at Lee County Career and Technology Center. She has been teaching for the past 16 years. Vicki inspires her students by sharing personal life experiences that help them achieve their daily and long-term goals. Her passion for learning about other cultures and their foods helps students appreciate other areas of the world.

On a more personal note, Vicki helps rescue racing greyhounds.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Mary Claire Price has been teaching for eight years and currently teaches fifth grade mathematics at Batesburg-Leesville Elementary. Mary Claire's dedication to make learning fun and the personal attention she provides to students inspires them. She makes learning relevant and engaging for her students by incorporating movement and cheers into lessons.

Mary Claire tries to build relationships with her students because she feels that, when students know she cares about them, they are more likely to trust her. By gaining trust from her students, she is able to help them succeed. In return, her students' honesty and innocence - along with their unbounded energy - never ceases to amaze her.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Kimmy teaches multiple subjects to third and fourth graders at Sandhills Elementary School and has been teaching for 10 years.

Being the youngest of six children herself, Kimmy has a great perspective on what it takes to help her students become a family. She creates a classroom environment where her students feel more safe and comfortable and offering them an endless amount of love and support. Kimmy finds that her students are each strong and incredible in their own way, and their courage inspires her to be a better teacher.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Becky has been teaching for 24 years and is currently teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages to students from kindergarten through fifth grade at Seven Oaks Elementary School. Becky finds that in teaching ESOL, one of the most important things is to make the classes fun. By showing her students that she believes in them, she helps motivate them to succeed. Over the past 24 years, Becky's students have continued to inspire her with their enthusiasm to learn.

During the weekend, when she is not spending time with her students, Becky is enjoying the outdoors by cruising around on her bike.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Stacy has been teaching for 8 years and is currently teaching first grade at Easterling Primary School. Stacy is motivated every day by her students' smiles and laughs. Their learning experiences make her want to work harder. She is hopeful that her love and compassion encourages her students to succeed.

While Stacy loves to teach, if she could do anything else it would be to travel the world and write for a magazine.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

LaSonya teaches 10th and 11th grade biology at Creek Bridge High School and has been teaching for 12 years. She encourages her students each day by telling them that they can accomplish anything they desire, and, in return, they are always willing to put forth their best effort.

LaSonya believes that whether the students give the right or wrong answers, the most important thing is that they are doing their best and continuing to move forward. With a deep dedication to the teaching profession, LaSonya is currently enrolled at Walden University and is working on her Doctorate in Education in Teacher Leadership.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Sylvia Spearman is currently teaching 7th and 8th grade English and language arts at McCormick Middle School. Having been a teacher for 30 years and earning her Masters in Education, Sylvia always tries to help her students understand that knowledge is power and learning never stops.

Not only does she inspire her students to learn, but she strives to inspire other teachers to continue their education. She also helps out her colleagues by offering up her ""green thumb"" and has been known to revive their seemingly hopeless plants.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Margaret has been teaching for more than 30 years and is currently teaching English as a Second Language at Mid-Carolina Middle/High School. She is always looking for ways to integrate her students into the school and lives by a philosophy created by Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, ""Nobody puts baby in a corner.""

Her students inspire her every day with their passion for life and their determination to help their families and build better lives.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Adam Hopkins, who currently teaches pre-algebra and algebra to 7th and 8th graders at Tamassee-Salem Middle/High School, has been teaching for 13 years. Adam leads by example by being a hard worker and having a positive attitude whenever he is in the classroom. He believes that enthusiasm is contagious and tries to instill enthusiasm for learning in his students.

Before becoming a teacher, Adam played guitar for a band, and he still enjoys ""rocking out"" to AC/DC and Metallica songs on his Gibson Les Paul guitar.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Valerie James-Lawrence has always appreciated people for their differences, which is one of the reasons that she appreciates each one of her students. She has been teaching for more than 25 years and currently teaches 2nd grade at St. James Gaillard Elementary School.

Valerie's students inspire her to continue teaching each and every day because she believes that all children are capable of learning as long as someone is willing to teach them.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Having taught for the past decade, Lindsay Jameson is currently teaching physical education at Dover Elementary School. She tries to inspire her students with her passion for physical education and by stressing the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle. Her students motivate her to be the best teacher she can be with their willingness to try new activities and trusting in her.

During the summer months when her students are enjoying their vacation, Lindsay enjoys planting a garden, but she takes pleasure in doing yard work throughout the year.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ernestine Mickens has been a teacher for 22 years and currently teaches GED preparation classes to adults at Turbeville High School. She strives to help her students think individually and not collectively. Though she is not the best at either task, she gets joy from dancing and singing.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Anita Richardson, who has been a teacher since she graduated from Clemson University 18 years ago, is currently teaching 3rd grade at Dacusville Elementary. Whenever her students make strides, regardless of how small, Anita is motivated to work harder to help them succeed.

She tries to share her experiences with them, especially what she has learned by traveling to different places, to teach them about the world outside of their small community. Her students could also learn from Anita's grade school days-she graduated from high school with 12 years of perfect attendance!

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Sarah has been teaching for 13 years and currently teaches U.S. history and biology to 10th, 11th and 12th graders at Dreher High School. To make learning fun for her students, Sarah tries to use creativity in the classroom. Her students are constantly inspiring her through their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm for learning.

When she is not consumed by history and biology, she uses her creativity to throw amazing, one-of-a-kind theme parties for her children's birthdays, where they make everything from the cake and outfits to games and goodies.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Catherine Griggs has been teaching for nine years since she graduated from the University of South Carolina. She tries to inspire her 1st graders at Pontiac Elementary School by showing them how much she loves them with daily hugs and sharing time. She also makes an effort to listen to her students because it helps them understand how much she cares about them. Catherine's students inspire her by being so eager to learn and constantly pushing her to work harder.

When she is not spending time with her 1st grade students, Catherine enjoys traveling and has been to China three times.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Kylie Georgeone teaches 1st grade at Hollywood Elementary and has been teaching for four years. Originally from Ohio, Kylie attended the Uniersity of Toledo and earned her Master in Education from the Univeristy of Cincinatti.

Kylie is amazed by her students' motivation to learn and the eagerness that they bring to the classroom. She believes that these children are the future of our society, and she does all that she can to inspire them to reach for their highest and most difficult goals because she believes that each one of them is truly capable of achieving them. When she is not teaching her students, Kylie is working with her therapy dog Ladybug, who she takes to community schools, hospitals and nursing homes to bring a smile to people's faces.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Karen Shinault teaches kindergarten at Campobello-Gramling Elementary School, and has been teaching for 18 years. She received her bachelor degree from U.S.C. Upstate and then earned her Master in Education from Converse College.

Karen's goal as a teacher is to make school fun and exciting for her students so it is a place they want to be. She also finds it important that her students feel as though her classroom is a safe haven for them to come and learn. Every day Karen's students inspire her to appreciate the little things in life. When she is not at school, Karen enjoys playing golf and swimming.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Diana Sheriff teaches 5th grade at Chesnee Elementary School. After receiving her bachelor degree in broadcasting from the Univeristy of South Carolina, she realized that she wanted to be a teacher and went to Converse College to earn her Masters of Arts in Elementary Education. She has since been teaching for six years. Diana tries to have a positive attitude each day and to make her lessons relevant to the real world. She aims to help her students learn academics along with life skills that will help them be good, kind, successful members of society. Her students inspire her with their motivation, tenacity and ability to overcome difficult circumstances at home.

Diana's own home life is reminiscent of a great, romantic movie

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Before getting into education, Keith was an adolescent social worker, but he has now been teaching for 13 years and currently is an 8th grade science teacher at Cowpens Middle School. Keith believes that developing a personal relationship helps him to connect with his students. This is important to him because, when students know their teacher cares about them, they relate better to the teacher and that teacher's subject. Keith stays in touch with his students and draws inspirations from their success throughout the year.

One thing Keith has always taken pleasure in is fishing, and he now goes fishing for striped bass with his son-in-law whenever he gets the chance.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Jessica is an ELA and Social Studies teacher at Woodruff Elementary and has been teaching for five years. To inspire her students, Jessica builds relationships based on trust and respect with each one from the beginning of the school year. Her students continue to uplift her in many ways, but mostly when they show determination in tough situations.

Jessica's two favorite television shows are Jeopardy and The Young and the Restless.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Wendy teaches first grade reading intervention and has been in the classroom for 14 years. Wendy loves to teach because her children inspire her. Wendy treats each student as the blessing they are, knowing that at the end of the day they teach her too.

When Wendy isn't teaching, she loves spending her time outdoors hiking.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Michele is a kindergarten teacher at Fairforest Elementary and has been teaching for 16 years. She is inspired each day by her students' desire to learn. Michele continuously motivates them to be the best they can be. She recognizes her students as precious little minds that drive her to keep learning as well. Michele is dedicated to being the best teacher to her classroom and school.

Michele loves traveling with her family.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Libby Ortmann has been teaching for 25 years and currently teaches social studies to students in grades 6-8. She works daily to build trust and support with each student. She wants her students to know she is their best cheerleader and advocate.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Ms. Roark has been teaching for seven years and currently teaches mathematics. Her students inspire her to be the best teacher she can be because she realizes the importance of attaining a better life through education. She tries each day to inspire students to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Mrs. Marshall has been teaching for 5 years and currently teaches 1st grade. She inspires students by using creative teaching methods and hands-on learning. She enjoys inspiring students each day and providing students an opportunity to have fun while learning. In fact, she uses music and dancing as methods to teach her students new material.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

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Teacher of the Year Nominee

Mrs. Marshall has been teaching for 24 years. She believes that building relationships with students and their families is important to show she has a vested interest in each student's future. One of the most important lessons she teaches her students is for them to believe in themselves.

She enjoys focusing on each students' future and sharing stories with them while at the same time teaching her students to dream and to accomplish their goals.

Teacher of the Year Nominee

Margaret has been teaching for more than 25 years and is currently teaching Kindergarten at Fort Mill Elementary School. She believes in establishing meaningful relationships with her students and seeks ways to make learning exciting, fun and developmentally appropriate for them.

Her students' enthusiasm and eagerness to learn impresses her each year and she enjoys introducing students to a world of learning.