District Five teacher named Social Studies Teacher of the Year

CHAPIN, SC – A Lexington-Richland School District Five teacher has been named Social Studies Teacher of the Year by a statewide group. Spring Hill High School’s Brea Amick has received the award by the South Carolina Council for the Social Studies (SCCSS). As the council’s teacher of the year, she also receives the Thomas Lowell “Tom” Buckland Memorial Teacher of Excellence Award, which honors educators who “work to promote quality social studies in the Palmetto State.” Amick will be honored during the SCCSS Annual Conference this fall.

“I was shocked and excited to receive this award,” Amick said. “It’s an honor to represent social studies teachers statewide, many who are among the best educators around. Teaching in general is just so rewarding. When the students start to make those connections and you’re able to influence that, it makes what you do important and worthwhile. I’m thrilled to receive the award and to teach social studies here.”

Now in her tenth year of teaching, Amick is beginning her first year at Spring Hill High School, District Five’s all-magnet school which opened in 2013. Prior to joining Spring Hill High, Amick taught at Mid-Carolina High School in Newberry County. A Chapin resident, she teaches world history and psychology at Spring Hill High School.

Brea Amick, Spring Hill High School teacher. Amick has been named Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the South Carolina Council for the Social Studies. As the council’s teacher of the year, she also receives the Thomas Lowell “Tom” Buckland Memorial Teacher of Excellence Award, which honors educators who “work to promote quality social studies in the Palmetto State.” 

Amick says today’s teachers are facilitators of learning rather than lecturers. During a September psychology class, Amick presented information then posed questions to students letting them debate and weigh the merits of each other’s opinions.

“Do placebos pose an ethical dilemma?” she asks.

“As long as the person is feeling better in the end, what difference does it make?” one student proposes.

Another student objects, “I really have a problem with that. If you go to a hospital expecting medical care and receive a placebo, then you aren’t really getting what you’re paying for.”

This is the way students exhibit and master depth of knowledge in a subject matter, Amick said.

“It should be the students who are doing most of the work in class,” she said. “It’s up to them to grab on to the material and take ownership of their learning in the classroom. We also try to make lessons real and relevant to our students. When you do those two things, it’s really easy for students to make those connections, make them understand the subject matter and learn something about the world around them too.” 

School staff say they already see Amick’s impact on her students and the school. “We are excited that Mrs. Amick was able to join the staff of Spring Hill High School this year,” Principal Dr. Michael Lofton said. “The SHHS family joins her in celebrating this wonderful accomplishment. We look forward to the great opportunities that Mrs. Amick will bring to Spring Hill.”

District Five Social Studies Coordinator Melony Sanford said, “Here in District Five, we pride ourselves on having world class educators who set the bar high for themselves and their students. We are extremely proud of Brea for being selected to receive the Buckland Award by the SCCSS.  Our students are lucky to have her teaching socials studies in our district.”