2018-19 OCSD5 Teachers of The Year Announced at District Convocation
The teachers, staff, and administrators OCSD5 gathered at the Edward A. Pellman, Jr. Gymnasium at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School on the morning of August 14, 2018 to kick-off the start of the new school year. Following a convocation address from Superintendent Dr. Jesse Washington and an energetic and inspiring presentation from author and motivational speaker Dr. Kimberly Johnson, the district introduced its Teachers of the Year from each of the district’s schools along with the 2018-19 District Teacher of the Year.
The Teachers of the Year from each school are: LaTrena Elmore, Bethune-Bowman Elementary School; LTC Brian Cole, Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School; Dr. Oneida Colter, Dover Elementary School; Christopher Gladman, North Middle/High School; Monique Jefferson, Brookdale Elementary School; Phillip Mickles, Marshall Elementary School; Audrey Bonnette, Mellichamp Elementary School; Dia Guinyard, Rivelon Elementary School; Dana Caggiano, Sheridan Elementary School; Taisha Jefferson-Brown, Whittaker Elementary School; Herman Marsh, Clark Middle School; Elizabeth Humphrey, Howard Middle School; Damion Johnson, Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School; Shayla Paul, The Technology Center, and Glen Kitts, High School for Health Professions.
The 2018-19 District Teacher of the Year is Elizabeth Humphrey representing Robert E. Howard Middle School. Humphrey was joined by Herman Marsh, Phillip Mickles, Dr. Oneida Colter, and Glen Kitts as Finalists for the OCSD5 District Teacher of the Year award.
Jimmy Jones Toyota of Orangeburg once again served as the community sponsor for the OCSD5 Teacher of the Year program. To demonstrate their support for public education, Jimmy Jones Toyota donated the use of a brand new Toyota Camry to the District Teacher of the Year, Elizabeth Humphrey, for her exclusive use during the year that she serves.
“We’re very proud of the work that all of our teachers do, they are truly committed to making a difference in the lives of the children in our community,” said Superintendent Dr. Jesse Washington. He added, “We’re also very thankful for the support of our business partners like Jimmy Jones Toyota. They show their commitment to public education in very tangible ways through volunteerism and sponsorship. They are very engaged with our students and schools.”
The Teachers of the Year at each school were selected by their peers at the end of the previous school year. From there, an independent committee of community leaders met over the summer to review applications and conduct interviews to make the final selection to determine the 2018-19 Finalists and District Teacher of the Year. The fifteen Teachers of the Year will meet with the Superintendent throughout the school year as members of the “Teacher Cabinet” to advise him on issues regarding students, teachers, and schools.
Mary Williams, Brookdale Elementary School, Named the 2017-18 District Teacher of The Year
2017-2018 OCSD5 District Teacher of the Year,
Mary Williams with Jimmy Jones and Lorenzo Anderson
of Jimmy Jones Toyota.
Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five (OCSD5) teachers, staff and administrators gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium on the campus of South Carolina State University to kick-off the start of the new school year. Following a convocation address from Superintendent Dr. Jesse Washington and remarks from keynote speaker Mike Patrick of Spartanburg-based Milliken and Company, the district introduced its Teachers of the Year from each of the district’s schools along with the 2017-2018 District Teacher of the Year.
The Teachers of the Year from each school are as follows: Jessica Elliott, Bethune-Bowman Elementary School; Cheryl Boyd-Murray, Dover Elementary School; Mary Williams, Brookdale Elementary School; Kimberly Jennings, Marshall Elementary School; André Moss, Mellichamp Elementary School; Monica King, Rivelon Elementary School; Michele Crane, Sheridan Elementary School; Trese Reed, Whittaker Elementary School; Stephanie Tyler, Clark Middle School; Shanna White, Howard Middle School; Antoinette Rogers, Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School; Linda Aiken, North Middle/High School; Onize Isa, Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School; Carolyn Gaillard, The Technology Center; and Rowena Loadholt, High School for Health Professions.
OCSD5 would like to extend its gratitude to Jimmy Jones Toyota of Orangeburg for sponsoring our Teacher of the Year program. Jimmy Jones Toyota donated the use of a brand new Toyota Rav4 to our District Teacher of the Year, Mary Williams, for her exclusive use during the year that she serves. Since their arrival in the Orangeburg community, Jimmy Jones Toyota has been an outstanding supporter of public education and numerous community projects and events. Please let them know how much we appreciate their support.
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Jessica McCormick, 4th Grade Teacher at Mellichamp Elementary School, Named the 2016-17 OCSD5 District Teacher of the Year
McCormick graduated from South Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and is currently pursuing a Master of Education degree from her alma mater. She began her teaching career in 2012 at Harleyville-Ridgeville Middle School where she taught English Language Arts in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. McCormick arrived at Mellichamp Elementary School in 2014 and quickly became a leader in the school and in the classroom. In addition to being selected as the Teacher of the Year at Mellichamp Elementary School in 2016, McCormick’s other honors and awards include being named Teacher of the Month in 2014, having 92% of her students pass the Social Studies PASS Test, having the highest percentage of students increasing STAR Reading Scores, and receiving the Literacy Leader Award.
As the District Teacher of the Year, McCormick received the use of a brand new Toyota RAV4 from our sponsor Jimmy Jones Toyota for one year. The entire OCSD5 family congratulates Jessica on this special accomplishment as she represents our district both at home and around the State.
Autumn Coulter, 4th Grade Teacher at Sheridan Elementary, Named the 2015-16 OCSD5 District Teacher of the Year
The new school year officially began for OCSD5 teachers and administrators on Monday, August 10 with an opening session highlighted by high-energy staff development activities and culminating with the announcement of Autumn Coulter as the 2015-16 District Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Coulter came to Sheridan Elementary School in 2011 through the Teach for America program and fell in love with the school and her students. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Masters of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Virginia Tech. Like many of her peers, Coulter knew from an early age that she wanted to be a teacher. She recalls spending hours teaching a class of stuffed animals and Raggedy Ann and Andy in her bedroom when she was four years old.
As the announcement of the District Teacher of the Year was about to made, a buzz of excitement raced through the room as Jimmy Jones, the owner of Jones Toyota in Orangeburg, announced that his business would be providing the use of a 2015 Toyota Camry for one year to the winner. OCSD5 deeply appreciates the demonstration of support for public education from Jones Toyota.
Finalists for the District Teacher of the Year were Mary Pent of Dover Elementary School, Tabitha Johnson of Rivelon Elementary School, Deloris Smith of Mellichamp Elementary School, and Priscilla Charley of Robert E. Howard Middle School. Profiles of all of our OCSD5 Teachers of the Year will appear throughout the year in our monthly newsletter, the E-Blast in Five.
