School board announces teachers of the year

The Colleton County School Board held its monthly virtual meeting on Tuesday May 19, live on Facebook.
Patricia Simmons, board chair, opened with a moment of silence in memory of Brent Terry, an IT employee for the district, who passed away on May 16. Simmons expressed the entire district’s sympathy for the family and sadness at his loss.
The meeting continued with Cliff Warren, assistant superintendent, honoring the 2019-2020 Retirees, Support Employees of the Year and Teachers of the Year. He also named the three finalists for District Teacher of the Year.
“The school district would like to take this opportunity to thank the following retirees for their hard work and dedication to the district’s children for many years,” said Warren.
Retirees are:
Kimberly Beeson, teacher, Forest Hills Elementary School; Melanie Blake, teacher, Colleton County Middle School; Bonita Cheney, media specialist, Bells Elementary School; Dyann Chisolm, teacher assistant, Cottageville Elementary School; Cynthia Claxton, student nutrition cashier, Hendersonville Elementary School; Claudia Colson, bus driver, Student Transportation; Donna Creel, teacher, Colleton County High School; Ellen Fender, instructional facilitator, Forest Hills Elementary School;
Dian Fryar, teacher assistant, Bells Elementary School; Susan Fryar, bus driver, Student Transportation; Cynthia Jones, teacher, Black Street Early Childhood Center; Cherrilyn Keaise, teacher, Colleton County High School; Kathryn O’Quinn, teacher, Hendersonville Elementary School; Melanie Ritter, teacher, Forest Hills Elementary School; Celeste Stone, media specialist, Colleton County Middle School; Robert Carl, teacher, Northside Elementary School; Marcelle Bryant, bus driver, Student Transportation; and Rosa Williams, bus driver, Student Transportation.
Warren also announced Support Employees of the Year and thanked them for their hard work and initiative. They are:
Angela Samuels Williams, computer lab assistant, Bells Elementary; Jocelyn Grant, bookkeeper/admin secretary, BSECC; Courtney Singleton, positive behavior support specialist, Colleton County High School; Angela Crosby, administrative secretary, CCMS; Syvilla Ann Brock, teacher assistant SPED, Cottageville; Monica Adams, media assistant, FHE; Chris Owens, student nutrition operator, HES; Mary Lee, Powerschool secretary, Northside; Hannah Hampleton, bookkeeper, district office/other offices; Daryl Erwin, Technology Center; and Catherine Folk, bus driver, Transportation.

Teachers
of the Year
“Those chosen for Teachers of the Year should be commended for their exceptional work and dedication to improving education in their schools,” said Warren. “We congratulate them on their achievements.”
Teachers of the Year are:
Sarah Pye, third grade teacher at Bells Elementary;
Kinloch Bell, pre-school teacher at BSECC;
Wanda Ashworth Valencia, special education teacher at CCHS;
Malanie Henderson at CCMS;
Zetoya Pinckney, 4K teacher at Cottageville;
Romeo Amaga Jr., second grade teacher at FHE;
Lisa Griswold, first grade teacher at HES;
Jennifer Bunton, music teacher at Northside;
and David Fanchette, drafting teacher at TCTC.

Finalists for

District Teacher of the Year
Zetoya Pinckney, Cottageville Elementary;
Jennifer Bunton, Northside Elementary;
Sarah Pye, Bells Elementary.
“We will be recognizing these individuals and naming our District Support Employee of the Year and District Teacher of the Year at our Back to School Celebration in August,” said Warren.
John Tindal, interim superintendent, thanked the award-winning employees for their service to the children and district.
He also said that 8,000 meals were being distributed to children throughout the district daily. Some children were not receiving meals in rural Smoaks, Ruffin and Bells areas, but if parents contact the district office with those addresses, the situation would be corrected.
Learning packets are being graded and employees are returning to finish grading and closing classrooms, but their attendance will be staggered to comply with COVID-19 guidelines.
Tindal also announced the following:
• June 5: Health screenings for district personnel and their spouses will be held in the district office boardroom.
• June 9: Report cards will be mailed to parents.
• June 24: Parents will be able to return textbooks and pay fees.
• The board will continue to meet on the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.
• The Lowcountry Food Bank will be distributing food boxes and fresh produce curbside to local residents beginning at 1:00 pm at the following schools and dates: June 4, Colleton County High School; June 11, Cottageville Elementary; June 23, Hendersonville Elementary
According to coordinator Jennifer Dewitt, Lowcountry Food Bank will be utilizing those schools and bringing 11 volunteers to help.
• Beginning this fall, 10 USC students will shadow Colleton teachers and assist in teaching. After one year, they will become teachers with a two-year obligation to the district.
Jessica Williams, assistant superintendent congratulated TCTC in being self-sustaining and with the ability to train its own incoming teachers. She also announced that next school year, the eighth grade will be added to TCTC.