When many Colletonians hear the name, Mrs. Janis Blocker, they know immediately that it implies “expert in the English language”! I met Janis many years ago in staff development meetings when she was teaching at Walterboro High School, and I was teaching at Ruffin High School, prior to the merging of the two schools. We have not only been colleagues ever since, but we also became friends, as we share a common bond: “lovers of the English language”! Both she and I worked with the graduation speakers at Colleton County High School and enjoyed every minute of it. Further, she taught my middle son, James, English 4 Honors. What he learned from the both of us, among several others of our colleagues, helped him in many ways to successfully complete his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012.
A Round O native, Janis’ education began right here in Colleton County where she was a 1957 honor graduate of Walterboro High School. She is a 1974 summa cum laude graduate of Baptist College of Charleston, currently known as Charleston Southern University. In 1981 she received a Master’s degree in Teaching English from The Citadel.
In Janis’ professional life, she has experience in a gamut of areas. Many young people have walked through the portals of her classroom, as she has taught in both the public, Walterboro and Colleton County High Schools; and private schools, John C. Calhoun and Colleton Preparatory Academies, of this county. Advanced Placement English, English 3 and 4 Honors, and Journalism are the courses that she has taught over the years. She has since retired from both educational sectors. However, she currently teaches Honors English at Colleton Preparatory Academy. She said, “I have taught Colleton’s best in both the public and private schools.”
Further, in Mrs. Blocker’s professional life, she is a former Scorer for the National Board of Teacher Certification, former Reader for the National Advanced Placement Examinations, former Scorer for Pearson National Educational Testing, and State Parliamentarian for the South Carolina State Organization of Delta Kappa Gamma Society. In the public school she was a recipient of the “Teacher of the Year Award,” and in the private school, they once dedicated their yearbook to her.
Her civic involvement include the following: Board member of the Colleton Country Board of Voter Registrations and Elections (2023), Chair of the Colleton County Library Board of Trustees (2019 - present), and Member of the Colleton Library Board of Trustees (1978-1989; 2002 -present). She is a former member and officer of the South Carolina Artisans Center Board and the Colleton Historical Society. Lastly, in her dedication to civic involvement, Janis is a former member of the United Way Board.
In the political arena, Janis served for 24 years as the Chair of the Colleton County Republican Party (1999 – 2023) and was a delegate to three National Presidential Conventions. She received the Dr. James B. Edwards (former Governor of South Carolina) Award for “Dedicated and Conspicuous Service to the South Carolina Republican Party.”
Having lived her life dedicated to Christ, Janis has served in the following capacities in her church and organizations connected to it: Lifelong member of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Walterboro; Clerk of Session, Bethel Presbyterian Church, 2001 to the present; Choir member for 66 years; Recording Clerk of Charleston Atlantic Presbytery (48 churches), 1988 to the present; Moderator of Charleston Presbytery, 1978; Moderator of Charleston Atlantic Presbytery, 1999; and Registrar of the South Carolina School of Theology, 1999–2023. Further, she is a graduate of the South Carolina School of Theology. One of the Scriptures that guides her life is Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
This well-loved, esteemed educator is the recipient of the following other awards: Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce “Lifetime Achievement Award,” Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Achievement in Education Award,” First “Star of the Southeast” from Delta Kappa Gamma Southeastern District (international teachers’ society), “State Achievement Award” from Alpha Eta State (state teachers’ society), and The “Order of The Rose” from Zeta chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.
Even though Janis has been involved in a number of meaningful, productive arenas throughout her life, she and her husband David Blocker share a deep commitment to each other and their family. They married 67 years ago in Bethel Presbyterian Church! They have three adult children who are in their 60s: Zane, Terri B. Daff, and Derral. Terri has followed in her mother’s footsteps as it relates to education; she is a school librarian. The family further consists of six adult grandchildren, ranging from ages 20-43 and two great-granddaughters who are in middle school. Never caring for jewelry and fine cars, David and Janis preferred spending their money on seeing this great country and the world. They have been to all 50 states, 48 of them in their motorhome. She has traveled to 27 countries. What a life of fulfillment and joy!
Having always valued Janis’ opinion on several subjects, especially those in education, I posed three specific questions to her. As you read her answers, I feel that you will observe what an influential expert she is in this area in which she has been dedicated for decades.
What are your thoughts about the state of affairs of education on the national level? “I am ambivalent on my stand with education and the state of affairs on the national level. I definitely think that success in education is a trickle-up, not a trickle-down situation. To me, the national level is cold and remote. What happens in the schools in our villages, towns, cities, and states dictates where this country is or will be in educational progress. Is the answer to a better educational system better dealt with at the national or state level? Better minds than mine will have to make that decision.
“Nationally, the US Department of Education spent $268 billion in 2024. From what I have read, the share for South Carolina was $905 million this year toward the South Carolina Department of Education’s budget of $13.4 billion. Those figures are mind-boggling. What are the results of that spending? All of us want the country to rank at the top of the world in education; unfortunately, that is not where the country is.
“To get to the root of the matter and closer to home, the educational issues in our state, as well as in other states, begin with students, parents, teachers, and community. The teacher shortage with all matter of reasons – low pay, high workloads, fewer credentialed teachers, lack of respect, and being undervalued—seems to be the focus now. I recently read that 86% of public schools are struggling to hire educators. Another statistic has 50% of new teachers leaving the profession within the first five years.
“On a personal note, I belong to an international society of women educators. The local chapter gives annual grants to a graduating senior from public, private, and home schools. The chapter could not award the grant for a couple of recent years because no student in the county chose education as the preferred career. How sad!”
Why did you choose to become a teacher?
“I really did not choose it. I truly believe that it was God’s calling to me from the second grade when Mrs. Mable Peirce was my teacher. At that young age I wanted to be everything that she was. Then in later years, Mildred Smoak (4th grade), Mary Frances Parker (Latin), Virginia vonLehe (English) and other positive influences ultimately led me to the profession. [As an aside, when I was a child, my little sister refused to play school with me, so I took my school stuff across the road from our home to our Kinsey family cemetery and “taught” the tombstones. They had names and were certainly respectful!] The classroom proved to be my niche. I never had the desire to become a principal, administrator, college professor, etc. It was in the classroom that I found my professional contentment.
“A big thank-you to those who influenced me. Now in my 49th year (25 years full time, 24 years part time) in the classroom, I am teaching the third generation of some families. What a journey it has been!”
What advice would you give to college students of today who are pursuing careers in education?
“I would encourage them to enter the classroom believing that they can make a difference and then living that belief. They will devote many hours beyond the classroom day and will often feel overwhelmed, but they will find nothing more challenging than teaching receptive students and trying to teach reluctant and unwilling learners. I would encourage them to take the challenge.”
Congratulations to Mrs. Janis Kinsey Blocker for being an outstanding educator, a positive influence who has given a life of dedicated service to our community, state, and nation; a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and an avid follower of Christ. You truly deserve to be honored for Women’s History Month 2025 and for all times!
