Greenville County Teacher of the Year 2015-16

Friday, August 14, 2015 Supplement to The Greenville Journal

First Runner-up

Heather Steading

Fifth Grade • Fork Shoals School

Second Runner-up

Kristin Danko

Fourth Grade • Bell’s Crossing Elem.

2015-16 Teacher of the Year Shiree Turner Fowler Kindergarten • Hollis Elementary Academy

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Third Runner-up

Anne Matthews

Strings • Greenville Middle Academy

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Greenville Federal Credit union Honors Two

Emerging

Teachers of the Year

Shiree Turner Fowler 2015-16 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year

Kindergarten Hollis Elementary Academy

Achieving Begins with Believing Hollis Elementary Academy kindergarten teacher Shiree Turner Fowler wanted to become a social worker so she could create empowering, community-based programs for at-risk youth. Once she began working with youth, she realized that although the children needed the programs, they were in need of something much greater. “To improve their lives, they first needed a quality education,” she said. “​ I became committed to teaching in Title I schools, which are schools with at least a 40 percent poverty rate, because of my commitment to the young people I worked with.”

Ms. Turner Fowler has been a teacher for 12 years, and has taught at Hollis Elementary Academy for the past two years. She spent the first years of her teaching career in the Seattle and Tacoma areas of Washington, where she earned recognition as a Hero in the Classroom.

To reach her five-year-old students in a school with a 98 percent poverty rate, Ms. Turner Fowler teaches in a fast-paced, energetic manner. “When I increase the urgency of my teaching, scholars increase the urgency of their learning; when scholars increase the urgency of their learning, they increase the investment in their own learning and that investment yields a profit of academic success,” she explained.

Her style is also laced with extremely high expectations. “When scholars walk in line, they are learning to walk like they are in the halls of the White House. They do not enter a classroom, they enter a Kinderversity,” she said.

“My rigorous curriculum demonstrates that I trust and believe that after overcoming obstacles, all of my scholars will walk down the aisle to receive their college diplomas and they will help change the world in their own special way.”

Ms. Turner Fowler believes her greatest accomplishments are the successes of her scholars.

“I have contributed to their success through being unwilling to accept failure, challenging them to achieve, holding high expectations and holding them accountable to meeting those expectations, empowering them through academic success, and believing in them,” she said.

Shiree Turner Fowler holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and social work from Seattle University and a master’s degree in elementary education from City University in Seattle.

The Emerging Teachers of the Year Program, sponsored by Greenville Federal Credit Union, recognizes a second or third year teacher at the elementary and secondary levels for outstanding performance. Each winner receives $500, a crystal award, and $500 for his/her school.

Elementary Level

Molli McDaniels

Second Grade • Berea Elementary Molli McDaniels, a second grade teacher at Berea Elementary School, has the ability to see the heart of every child. She transforms learning by holding her students to high expectations while providing trust and encouragement.

McDaniels uses a reading binder filled with data to set meaningful goals for students, to accurately track their progress, and to adjust instruction to meet each student’s needs. Social contracts designed by students allow them to decide how they want to treat each other, and anchor charts are posted around the classroom to review strategies previously learned. She has intentionally designed her classroom community to put the ownership of learning in her students’ hands as they work collaboratively in small groups.

Secondary Level

Amy Hegarty

Science and Freshman Academy Greenville Sr. High Academy Greenville Sr. High Academy science teacher Amy Hegarty is engaging, helpful, compassionate, calm, prepared, kind, and accommodating to students with various learning needs. She has positioned herself as a leader in the school to the extent that other teachers and administrators forget she is not a veteran teacher.

She breaks down her assignments into manageable chunks and gets her tests, quizzes, and other assignments translated for her nonEnglish speaking students in ESOL classes.

She teaches students in her freshman transition class note-taking and organization skills, and employs engaging activities in the classroom to help her students see the relevance of the subject’s content. In her first year of teaching, Ms. Hegarty’s End-of-Course pass rate was an exceptional 90 percent.

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Greenville County Schools

“As teachers, children’s love for learning is in our hands. It is our responsibility to provide students with an education that meets their needs, engages them, motivates them, and inspires them. I want all of my fifth graders to leave school loving learning and knowing they are capable of anything they set their mind to.”

- Heather Steading

First Runner-Up

Heather Steading Fifth Grade Fork Shoals School

Second Runner-Up

Kristin Danko

Fourth Grade Bell’s Crossing Elementary “I make my classroom a place of discovery and adventure, a safe haven where chances are taken and mistakes are made without fear of criticism, and knowledge is absorbed with an unquenchable thirst for more. I spark this flame and help them acknowledge a love of learning through my own positive attitude and enthusiasm for education.”

- Kristin Danko

Third Runner-Up

Anne Matthews

Strings Greenville Middle Academy “I make it a point to bond with each student by appreciating individual interests outside my classroom. Whether they cheer for a certain team, have a dog, or practice karate, students feel more appreciated, valued, and work harder when you take the time to share their interests both in and outside the classroom.”

- Anne Matthews

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Alice Bradley

Amy Burnett

Seventh Grade, Ralph Chandler Middle

Mathematics, Berea High

Tracy Gay

Stacy Hall

Fifth Grade, Crestview Elementary

Sixth Grade School Counseling, Riverside Middle

Shelley Peak

David Quigley

Third Grade, Robert E. Cashion Elementary

Math and Science, Woodmont High

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Greenville County Schools

2015-16 Teachers of the Year

Gwen Buto Third Grade A.J. Whittenberg Elem.

Damon Qualls Fifth Grade Alexander Elementary

Freida Rafferty Third Grade Armstrong Elementary

Thayer Berry Art Augusta Circle Elementary

Zach Nicks Seventh Grade Math Beck Middle Academy

Jane Farry Third Grade Berea Elementary

Keri Mills Sixth Grade Science Berea Middle

Diana Dailey Music Bethel Elementary

Marcie Case Math Blue Ridge High

Nicole Sullivan Sixth Grade Social Studies Blue Ridge Middle

Ginger Wesolowski Media Specialist Blythe Elem. Academy

Nancy DeYoung Spanish Brashier Middle College Charter High

Thelma Bigsby Media Specialist Brook Glenn Elementary

Kathy Lewis Fourth Grade Brushy Creek Elementary

Rachel Richards Fifth Grade Bryson Elementary

James Kliewer Seventh Grade Math Bryson Middle

Anna Doyle Fourth Grade Buena Vista Elementary

Clay Roberson Engineering Carolina High & Academy

Jessica Preisig Third Grade Chandler Creek Elementary

Jami Christian Third Grade Cherrydale Elementary

Michele Colebank Speech Child Development Centers

Sundra Sweeney CTE/Tenth - Twelfth Grades Donaldson Career Center

Serena Cox Sixth Grade Science Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher MS

LaVisha Youmans Third Grade Duncan Chapel Elementary

Beth Whalen First Grade East North St. Elem. Academy

Ron Hendrix Chorus Eastside High

Lucy Tinsley Media Specialist Ellen Woodside Elementary

Sherry Mantooth Cosmetology Enoree Career Center

John Ravnan Strings Fine Arts Center

Kristen Jones Fifth Grade ELA/Writing Fountain Inn Elementary

Amy Clark Literacy Coach Gateway Elementary

Kelly Sanderson Culinary Arts Golden Strip Career Center

Cassie Parker Fifth Grade Math Greenbrier Elementary

Ben Ludwick Math Greenville Sr. High Acad.

Valerie Dix Spanish 2 & 3 Greenville Tech. Charter HS

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Greenville County Schools

2015-16 Teachers of the Year

Nathan E. Flounders Math & PLTW Greer High

Nanette Davis Eighth Grade Math Greer Middle

Ryan Stone Ninth Grade Social Studies/History Greer Middle College Charter HS

Jessie Betten Kindergarten Grove Elementary

Lynn Mills First Grade Heritage Elementary

Sarah Solesbee Physical Education Hughes Middle Academy

Anna Chappell Guidance J. Harley Bonds Career

Kathy Cook Mathematics J.L. Mann High Academy

Kate Fogleman Special Education Lake Forest Elementary

Jennifer Loftis Sixth Grade ELA Lakeview Middle

Heather Ebert Sixth Grade Science League Middle Academy

Kwadjo Campbell Eighth Grade ELA Legacy Charter School

DeeDee Eggert Fourth Grade Mauldin Elementary

Wes Dodgens Social Studies Mauldin High

Meg Black Seventh Grade Math Mauldin Middle

Wanda Lumsden Second Grade Mitchell Road Elementary

Liz Bowman Physical Education Monarch Elementary

Heidi Morris Fourth Grade Monaview Elementary

Anne Hembree Art Mountain View Elementary

Keri Reaney Media Specialist Northwest Middle

Ed Sharp Sixth Grade Science Northwood Middle

Gwendolyn Brown Media Specialist Oakview Elementary

Elizabeth Riebe Fourth Grade Paris Elementary

Jennifer Stokes Fifth Grade Pelham Road Elementary

Angie McCurley First Grade Plain Elementary

Kapp Abbott Spanish Riverside High

Kristin Wooten Physical Education Rudolph Gordon Elem.

Susan Matthews Music Sara Collins Elementary

Colleen K. Marsh Band/Strings Sevier Middle

Jesse Irene Martini Art Simpsonville Elementary

Carol Godfrey Music Skyland Elementary

Kelly Jordan First Grade Slater-Marietta Elementary

Deana Harrill Social Studies Southside High Academy

Amanda Walkup Special Education Hillcrest High

Meri Heather Acton Eighth Grade Math Hillcrest Middle

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School Teachers of the Year

The process of selecting the ten finalists began last fall when schools and centers selected their individual Teachers of the Year. Applications were reviewed by a Screening Committee. Five judges then selected the Top Ten finalists and the District Teacher of the Year.

Greenville County Schools 2015-16 Teachers of the Year

How Are the Finalists Chosen?

Each Top Ten candidate for Greenville County Teacher of the Year is judged on the nine areas included on the application form, a classroom visit, and an interview.

In the classroom, judges observe the teacher’s command of subject matter, classroom environment, communication skills, enthusiasm, creativity, and classroom management skills. During the interview, candidates are judged on his or her use of effective communication skills, organization of response, knowledge and command of subject matter, and substance and relevance of response.

The members of the Selection Committee are Lillie Lewis, Southern Wesleyan University; Kelly Nalley, former Greenville County Schools and South Carolina Teacher of the Year; Dr. Betty McConaghy, retired school administrator; Scott Powell, Rotary Club of Greenville; and Bill Tyler, Chick-fil-A.

Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees Seated, left to right: Patrick L. Sudduth, Glenda Morrison-Fair, Joy Grayson, Lisa H. Wells, Lynda Leventis-Wells, Derek Lewis. Standing, left to right: Debi C. Bush, Dr. Crystal Ball O’Connor, Kenneth E. Baxter, Roger Meek, Danna Rohleder, Charles J. (Chuck) Saylors.

Lisa H. Wells 2015 Board Chairman W. Burke Royster Superintendent The 2015-16 Teachers of the Year insert was produced by the Communications Department of Greenville County Schools.

301 E. Camperdown Way • P.O. Box 2848 • Greenville, SC 29602 INFOLine 864-355-3100 • www. greenville.k12.sc.us The School District of Greenville County does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, handicap, religion, or national origin in its dealings with employees, students, the general public, applicants for employment, educational programs, activities, or access to its facilities. For concerns, call the General Counsel at 355-8866.

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Amy Brown Third Grade Sterling School

Betty Russell Third Grade Stone Elem. Academy

Stephanie Carberry First Grade Sue Cleveland Elementary

Amy Newton Second Grade Summit Drive Elementary

Christian Scott Band Tanglewood Middle

Katie Baggott Second Grade Taylors Elementary

Anthony C. Esposito Fifth Grade Math Thomas E. Kerns Elem.

Jo Kitchens Fourth Grade Tigerville Elementary

Michael Eudy Science and Biology Travelers Rest High

Jamie Whitlock Ninth Grade Science Wade Hampton High

Julie Dail Special Education/Music Washington Center

Sean O’Laughlin Physical Education Welcome Elementary

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors Robbin Surfus Fifth Grade Westcliffe Elementary

Jennifer Dixon Fifth Grade Woodland Elementary

Meredith Moore Hamby Art Woodmont Middle

Teachers of the Year Recognized by Local Businesses The announcement naming Shiree Turner Fowler the 2015-16 Greenville County Teacher of the Year was made August 13 during a Teacher of the Year breakfast. Special awards and prizes were provided for the top Greenville County teacher and other honorees.

Emerging Teachers of the Year The Emerging Teachers of the Year Program, sponsored

by Greenville Federal Credit Union, recognizes a second or third year teacher at the elementary and secondary levels for outstanding performance. Each winner receives $500, a crystal award, and $500 for his/her school.

Bank of Travelers Rest, Chick-fil-A, Cowart Awards, Eplee & Associates, Expressions Unlimited, Greenville Federal Credit Union, Greenville Journal, Herff Jones Company, Michelin North America Inc., Papa John’s Pizza, Peace Center, Rotary Club of Greenville, Sam’s Club, Sprint, The Greenville News

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Congratulations to Greenville County’s Teachers of the Year!

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