Lakevia Mills named CCSD 2020 Teacher of the Year
October 7, 2020
St. John’s High School science teacher, Lakevia Mills, is Charleston County School District’s 2020 Teacher of the Year (TOY). She’s honored to have been chosen and hopes to use the opportunity as Teacher of the Year to express the importance of creating equitable learning environments across the entire district.
The announcement came via a surprise visit from Superintendent Dr. Gerrita Postlewait and a caravan of District officials. Selected from over 80 school-based TOY’s, Mills will help lead the CCSD Teacher of the Year Roundtable during the 2020-2021 school year. She will also receive a one-year lease to drive a BMW thanks to Rick Hendrick BMW of Charleston.
Mills follows 2019 honoree Jayuntay Williams.
Back in the early spring, Mills and four other finalists were selected through a multi-step process that began with a review of their applications by the outgoing Teacher of the Year Roundtable. Once the finalists were chosen, each of the five teachers gave a tour of their school to a panel of judges, provided a model lesson to be critiqued, and participated in a thorough interview process.
Mills’ interest in teaching was sparked along the way by people who inspired and encouraged her.
Mills teaches Principles of Biomedical Science and the Human Body, along with biology to 9th through 12th graders. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a master’s degree in Biology from Virginia State University. She taught in the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Schools from 2014-2017 before joining CCSD six years ago. She serves on the School Improvement Council at St. John’s? and the Regional Health Advisory Board.
Principal Stephen Larson described Mills as kind, caring, conscientious, and expects the very best for herself and her students.
“Mrs. Mills is St. John’s,” said Larson. “She is highly regarded among her peers and stands out as a leader in professional learning, collaboration, and attitude. I can’t say enough about her, but I’m willing to whenever I’m given the time!”
In addition, Wando High School’s Margo Quigley was named Teacher of the Year Runner-Up.
Quigley teaches math to 9th through 12th-grade students at Wando High School (WHS) where she has taught for the last 12 years. She was nominated as Teacher of the Year at WHS two years in a row. She holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics teaching from Clemson University; a master’s degree for teaching for math and science teachers from the College of Charleston; and a Master’s in Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Other finalists for 2020 CCSD Teacher of the Year included Dr. Amy Bramble (Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School), Mev McIntosh (North Charleston High School), and Stephanie Ganacoplos (C.E. Williams Middle School).
About the Charleston County School District
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is a nationally-accredited school district that is committed to providing equitable and quality educational opportunities for all of its students. CCSD is the second-largest school system in South Carolina and represents a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools spanning 1,300 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves more than 50,000 students in 87 schools and specialized programs.
CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options and specialized programs, delivered through neighborhood, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), Montessori, and charter schools. Options include programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; and military.
