6 minute read
Newsworthy
from July 2021
by VIP Magazine
Something to Celebrate...
Twenty teachers will serve as their school’s 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year after being chosen for the honor by their peers, the Darlington County School District (DCSD) announced today. The Darlington County Teacher of the Year Program honors and awards those teachers who exceed expectations to provide meaningful and rewarding learning experiences for the students of Darlington County. The program is dedicated to all teachers who work diligently every day. “We are fortunate to have outstanding educators in Darlington County,” said Dr. Tim Newman, DCSD superintendent. “The pandemic challenged our teachers to reinvent their profession multiple times over. These 20 teachers were selected and recognized by their peers as being exceptional educators and leaders in a difficult time, always focused on our students. On behalf of the Darlington County School District, congratulations to all of you. We are ‘DCSD Proud’ to have you represent your schools and this district.”
Teachers are nominated by their peers. Then, in a testament to peer-reviewed excellence, each School Teacher of the Year is chosen by vote at each respective school. These teachers truly stand out in their buildings. School Teachers of the Year receive a cash award and become members of the Teacher Forum and the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Cabinet. The 2021-2020 School Teachers of the Year are: Amy Coleman, Guidance Counselor, Bay Road Elementary School Regina Parker, Science, Brockington Elementary Magnet School Kristine Byrd, Fifth Grade, Carolina Elementary School Eric Tew, Graphic Communications, Darlington County Institute of Technology Shakia Mitchell-Days, Fifth Grade, Darlington County Virtual Academy Jason Oakes, Science and Early College Honor Program, Darlington High School Spencer Tyner, Eighth Grade, Darlington Middle School Danielle Winburn, Mathematics, Hartsville High School Christa Henderson, Seventh Grade English/Language Arts, Hartsville Middle School Kimberly Edgerton, 5K, J. L. Cain Elementary School Alphine Bradley, Mathematics, Lamar High School Emily “Michelle” Lloyd, Third Grade, Lamar-Spaulding Elementary School Stacy Duke, Science, Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology John Byrd, Third Grade, North Hartsville Elementary School Jennifer Jackson, Second Grade, Pate Elementary School Judy Tolson-Williamson, Media Specialist, Rosenwald Elementary/Middle School Jennifer Lynch, 5K, Southside Early Childhood Center April McPherson, Mathematics, Spaulding Middle School Cellina Epps, Fourth Grade, St. John’s Elementary School Citronella Smith, School Counselor, Thornwell School for the Arts
A District Teacher of the Year will be chosen from the pool of school winners and announced later this year.
Through a newly instituted program of recognition, the Darlington County School District is honoring a School Support Staff Person of the Year in each of its schools.
“Our support staff are extremely dedicated and hardworking employees ,” said Dr. Tim Newman, DCSD superintendent. “We appreciate all that goes on behind the scenes to keep our district moving forward. Their hard work creates safe and effective learning environments for our students, keeping our schools, districts and buses running during the pandemic. We are excited to recognize them and look forward to working with them over the next year as we chart our path forward.” All of the school winners were nominated by their peers. Each school then held a schoolwide vote on nominees to determine this year’s winner. Each School Support Staff Person of the Year will serve as a key advisor on the Superintendent’s Cabinet. To be eligible, a person must be a full-time employee working in a nonexempt, non-certified position with at least two years of experience in his/her current role. Eligible positions include - but are not limited to - bus drivers, custodial, clerical, food service, classroom support, nurses, social workers, family facilitators, para-educators, administrative support, and classroom support. The 2021 School Support Staff Persons of the Year are: Richard Brockington, teacher assistant, Bay Road Elementary School Linda McLeod, custodian, Brockington Elementary Magnet School Frank Hickman, custodian, Carolina Elementary School Debbie Perkins, custodian, Darlington County Institute of Technology Debbie Suggs, support team, Darlington County Virtual Academy Gloria Howle, secretary, Darlington High School Christy Turner, secretary, Darlington Middle School Ida Coe, custodian, Hartsville High School Ginger King, student data manager, Hartsville Middle School Rita Bollinger, teacher assistant, J.L. Cain Elementary School Pam Newsome, secretary, Lamar High School Mary Helen Geries, school-community facilitator, Lamar-Spaulding Elementary Heyward Kelly, custodian, Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology Sheila Dubose, teacher assistant, North Hartsville Elementary School Patrick Williamson, teacher assistant, Pate Elementary School Brenda Goodman, secretary, Rosenwald Elementary and Middle School Beverly Robinson, custodian, Southside Early Childhood Center Sharonda Prescott, student data manager, Spaulding Middle School Jennie Stanley, teacher assistant, St. John's Elementary School Washieka Coaxum, teacher assistant, Thornwell School for the Arts
Each winner will receive a cash award and serve as a key advisor on the Superintendent’s Support Staff Cabinet. A District Support Staff Person of the Year will now be chosen from the pool of school winners and will be announced later this year.
If you are celebrating a positive achievement or have been awarded for a newsworthy accomplishment, email Heather Page at heather@vipmagsc.com.
Burgess
The 2021 recipient of the Hannah Skipper Memorial Scholarship was Amaura Burgess, a West Florence High School graduate. Burgess will be attending USC Union in the Fall. The scholarship is one of the many ways The Hannah Skipper Foundation is 'Keeping Hannah's Light Shining Bright"! Congratulations, Amaura!
Florence Police Department & Terrence F. Carraway Foundation Award Scholarships
Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology is regularly listed in US News & World Report’s “Best High Schools in America” listing and is a National Blue Ribbon School. The DCSD’s only stand-alone magnet high school provides rigorous academic programs with a STEM focus.
Kristian Mack of Darlington High School, Grace Myers of West Florence High School, Megan Atkinson of Lake City High School, and Karson Byerly of Hartsville High School Chief Allen Heidler of the Florence Police Department and Allison Carraway of the Terrence F. Caraway Foundation awarded four area high school graduates with the Sergeant Terrence Carraway Memorial scholarship, during a small ceremony in the City Council Chambers this morning. The 2021 recipients of the scholarship are Karson Byerly of Hartsville High School, Kristian Mack of Darlington High School, Grace Myers of West Florence High School, and Megan Atkinson of Lake City High School. Each graduate received $1,000 to go toward higher education expenses. Established in January of 2019, this need-based scholarship honors the life and work of Sergeant Terrence Carraway, whose watch ended October 3, 2018. The joint effort by the Terrence F. Carraway Foundation and Florence Police Department is a commitment to the continuation of Terrence's passion to assist the youth in the Florence and Darlington areas to have a brighter future. Karson Byerly plans to attend Liberty University and major in Film. Kristian Mack intends to major in Sports Management at Coastal Carolina University. Grace Myers plans to attend Western Carolina University and majored in Forensic Science. Megan Atkinson intends to major in Criminal Justice at Clemson University. The recipients of the scholarship were selected from applicants from school districts in Florence and Darlington Counties, or a comprehensive review of their application high school transcripts SAT/ACT scores and their 500-word essay. Information regarding this scholarship is provided each year to all of the Florence and Darlington school district guidance counselors.
