Five Finalists Named for Teacher of the Year Honor
March 6, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – March 6, 2012 – Five outstanding classroom teacherswere named as finalists in South Carolina’s State Teacher of the YearProgram. The five finalists were chosen from nominees representing 82local school districts, the South Carolina School for the Deaf and theBlind, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Palmetto Unified SchoolDistrict, and the South Carolina Public Charter School District. Theywill travel to Columbia for personal interviews with a seven-memberstate Selection Committee. They are vying to represent more than 50,000South Carolina teachers in the National Teacher of the Year Program.
The five finalists, listed alphabetically by school district, are:
- Amy McAllister, an English teacher at Johnsonville High School, Florence County School District Five;
- Taunja Pool, a 5th grade teacher at Summit Drive Elementary, Greenville County School District;
- Helen Walker, a music teacher at Doby’s Mill Elementary, Kershaw County School District;
- Philip Rabon II, a middle level social studies teacher at Pair Education Center, Lexington School District Two; and
- Patricia Swinton, an 11th and 12th-grade biology teacher at A.C. Flora High School, Richland School District One.
State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais said, “Teachers are toeducation what doctors are to medicine: the providers of the service forwhich the institution exists. Amy, Taunja, Helen, Philip, and Patriciaput the interests of their students first and lead classrooms where apersonalized and customized approach to education produces outstandingresults. On behalf of their students, parents, and colleagues, wecongratulate and thank these educators for their excellence in theclassroom.”
The finalists were chosen by a panel of educators and private citizenswith no connection to the agency. The names of the teachers and theschools they represent were concealed from the judges during theselection process.
The announcement of South Carolina’s 2012-13 Teacher of the Year will bemade at the corporate-sponsored Teacher of the Year celebration onTuesday, May 1 in Columbia. During the next school year, that teacherwill participate in a one-year residency program at the Center forEducator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA) and serve as astatewide ambassador for the profession.
South Carolina’s new Teacher of the Year also receives a $25,000 cashaward and a BMW to use for a year. The four remaining finalists, orHonor Roll teachers, will receive $10,000 each, and the districtteachers of the year will receive $1,000 each.
This year marks the 47th year of the South Carolina Teacher of the YearProgram, which has grown tremendously in participation and prestige. The awards program is a nationally recognized event that honors theState Teacher of the Year, Honor Roll teachers and district teachers ofthe year.
The National Teacher of the Year program, started in 1952, is a projectof the Council of Chief State School Officers and is sponsored by theING Foundation.
The 2012-13 State Teacher of the Year will succeed Patti Tate, anEnglish teacher at Northwestern High School in York School District 3.
