4 minute read
District Teacher of the Year Finalists
Twice as nice
Given no 2020 ceremony, Sumter School District honors current, new Teachers of the Year at Celebration of Excellence Ceremony
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BY BRUCE MILLS
It was a year like no other in education and one that will certainly go down in the history books.
As Superintendent Penelope Martin-Knox described it at the district's annual Celebration of Excellence in Spring 2021, the last year involved lots of new learning vocabulary - such as "asynchronous," "synchronous" and "virtual" - but everybody was "face to face" for the "in-person" event and happy for it.
Without an official teacher-recognition ceremony in May 2020 with the initial spread of the coronavirus, Sumter School District marked its 2021 Celebration of Excellence by honoring and installing both its current teachers of the year and also the 2021-22 campus teachers of the year.
The night's speakers, which included Martin-Knox and 2021 South Carolina Teacher of the Year Sarah Gams, among others, sung the praises of the district's honorees.
"Inspirational," "essential," "leaders," "adaptable," "passionate" and "graceful" were repeated throughout the evening.
Last school year also found teachers "figuring out the future of education" with new technology, Gams added.
As is the case with each Celebration of Excellence, the district expressed gratitude to its senior Teachers of the Year from 2019-20 who are now departing the district's Sumter Teacher Forum and welcomed the rising junior teachers of the year, who will represent their school campuses this year. The forum is a two-year leadership and professional development program for the honorees.
Also, like at each Celebration of Excellence, the district named its finalists for the District Teacher of the Year award.
They are Wilder Elementary School STEAM coach and lab instructor Meghan Walters, Chestnut Oaks Middle School chorus teacher Thomas Slater and Sumter High School art teacher Deana Rennick.
Like the others, Walters said she appreciated the district's support, especially in a difficult year with COVID-19. "Many times, as educators, we do not feel supported by the greater world," she said. "But to have a district like ours is special. To have your district say, 'Wow, we see you, we're here for you, and let's try to get the best out of you' is very nice."
The District Teacher of the Year is announced in August at its annual opening meeting. Find coverage in The Sumter Item and online at TheItem.com. Teacher Forum scholarship winners
The Sumter Teacher Forum named Crestwood High School senior Zoe McDonald as the winner of the annual Hailey Bordeaux Memorial Scholarship for Future Educators. McDonald will receive $3,000.
Other scholarships for seniors pursuing careers in education were awarded to Bobbi Ann Elmore of Sumter High ($1,500), Victoria Vance of Crestwood ($1,000), Tyler Riley of Crestwood ($1,000), Lauren Smallwood of Crestwood ($500) and Molasia Singleton of Crestwood ($500).
Teacher of the Year
Finalists
Deana Rennick
Art, Sumter High School
Deana Rennick, an art teacher at Sumter High School, has 18 years of service to education. The most rewarding part of her career is building relationships with her students and helping them discover their own ways of tackling new challenges both inside the classroom and out. This is why she always lets them know that she loves them, she is proud of them, and she thinks they are awesome people. The long-term reward is when they pop their heads into her room to say hi after the semester is over, or when they contact her after they've graduated just to check in and let her know how they are doing.
Thomas Slater
Chorus & Music, Chestnut Oaks Middle School
Thomas Slater, a chorus and general music teacher at Chestnut Oaks Middle School, has 35 years of service to education. Having a career that has spanned more than 30 years, it is very hard for Thomas to pinpoint any one most rewarding part of teaching. However, it does his heart good to see former students who inform him of how much they enjoyed chorus and how it impacted their lives. Also, he feels great knowing that he has helped to mold and shape the lives of our future.
Meghan Walters
Dr. Meghan Walters, STEAM coach and lab instructor at Wilder Elementary School, has 14 years of service to education. The most rewarding part of her career has been working through the pandemic where she has been able to wear many hats and support both teachers and students. She became a stronger collaborator and mentor to colleagues she supported with technology integration and infrastructure support, she got to co-teach with multiple teachers, and she redesigned her instructional practice to meet the needs of students who were virtual and face to face simultaneously.
