Richland Two announces 2025–2026 District Teacher of the Year

Richland School District Two announced that Jelayne King, a Special Education Teacher at Pontiac Elementary School, has been named the 2025–2026 District Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Dr. Kim D. Moore, members of the Board of Trustees, and district leaders surprised King with the honor earlier this week.

Now in her 18th year in education, King says her passion for teaching grows stronger each day. “In my classroom, it is inspiring to see the growth my students are making,” she shared. “I love my students, and every day brings something new—which excites me. Teaching is a marathon, not a sprint, and you must train properly to succeed. For those already in the profession or preparing to enter it, there is so much to love about being a lifelong educator.”

Superintendent Dr. Kim D. Moore; School Board Chair, The Honorable Angela Nash; District Teacher of
the Year, Jelayne King; School Board Member, The Honorable Gary Dennis; School Board Member, The Honorable
Nikki Porter; and School Board Secretary, The Honorable Dr. Monica Elkins-Scott

King began her career at Bethel-Hanberry Elementary School, where she taught English Language Arts and Social Studies for seven years before moving to Pontiac Elementary. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, and a Master of Education in Special Education from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Her journey to the classroom began long before college. Inspired by her aunt, a kindergarten teacher, King recalls fond memories of visiting her classroom as a child. “According to my parents, I wanted to be a teacher before I even started school. Some of my favorite memories are hearing my aunt’s stories about her students and seeing how much they learned,” she said. “As an educator, my passion is ensuring every child learns in ways that are meaningful and impactful. My greatest accomplishment isn’t measured by test scores, but by using my gift of teaching to help every child experience success at their own level.”

Last month, the district announced five finalists for District Teacher of the Year: Meredith Blocker, Blythewood High School; Elisabeth Luck, Lake Carolina Upper Elementary School; Abigail Taylor, Bethel-Hanberry Elementary School; and Joy Walker, Kelly Mill Med Pro Middle School.

As District Teacher of the Year, King will represent Richland Two in the South Carolina Teacher of the Year competition.Video Link: https://youtu.be/2hGqkDz3qls