District Five announces 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year finalists
March 26, 2018
Lexington-Richland School District Five has named finalists for its 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year award. The finalists are: Alexandra Hendrick, a Dutch Fork High School social studies teacher; Parker Hollister, an Oak Pointe Elementary School music teacher; and Alice White, a Chapin High School Spanish teacher. The district Teacher of the Year will be announced on May 9.
District Five Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner said, “The talent and dedication of our teachers are second to none, and our finalists represent the best of the best. We want to say congratulations to our finalists and all the school teachers of the year across School District Five. We are so grateful for all they do to make our district great.”
Hendrick has served at Dutch Fork High School since August 2012. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina’s Honors College and has a master’s degree in teaching from the university. Prior to becoming a teacher at Dutch Fork High, Hendrick taught social studies at Mid-Carolina High School. “The most important thing I want my students to know is that they are unique and valuable,” Hendrick said. “I believe if students know that you care about them, they will come along with you…I realize it is a privilege to build relationships and teach, and I do not take it lightly.”
Hollister has served at Oak Pointe Elementary School since 2014 and also has served as an assistant band director at Chapin High since 2012. He has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Newberry College and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of South Carolina. Hollister also serves as a private music instructor and has been a member of the Carolina Wind Symphony of Irmo since 2014. “I am most rewarded when I see students achieve what they used to think impossible,” Hollister said. “…I know that these experiences are making a positive impact on students’ lives for many years to come.”
White has served at Chapin High School since 2009. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Wofford College and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of South Carolina. She is a member of both the Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese and the Academic Council on Foreign Language Teaching. “Education is not something we provide,” White said. “It is a process we have the joy of participating in with our school families. When students walk into my room I challenge myself to draw out the things that are important to each person, to who they are and who they will become.”
Teachers of the Year winners from each school include: Shannon Avery (Academy for Success), Megan Bebber (Ballentine Elementary), Patrick Duggan (Center for Advanced Technical Studies), Brooke Bridges (Chapin Elementary), Dutch Fork Elementary (Christy Trevett), Faith Todd (H. E. Corley Elementary), Caitlin Vaughn (Harbison West Elementary), Patti Corley (Irmo Elementary), Abby Dreher (Lake Murray Elementary), Kendra Sutton (Leaphart Elementary), Ashley Yelman (Nursery Road Elementary), Parker Hollister (Oak Pointe Elementary), Christina Harmon (River Springs Elementary), Katie Roush (Seven Oaks Elementary), Micki Pitchford (Chapin Intermediate), S’Ade Glenn (CrossRoads Intermediate), Casey Parker (Chapin Middle), Jennifer Grogan (Dutch Fork Middle), I’esha Odom (Irmo Middle), Alice White (Chapin High), Alexandra Hendrick (Dutch Fork High), Allison Smith (Irmo High) and Olivia McCartney (Spring Hill High).
