Laurens County School District 55 Hosts Inaugural Teacher Signing Day Celebration

Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55) held a signing ceremony on January 6, 2025. LCSD 55 Human Resources Department Director Renee Madden introduced and presented the individuals who intend to serve in the district in 2025-2026.

They are Sarah Duvall, Emily Fleming, Michelle Moon, Amanda Smith, and Ashley Walker.

Sarah Duvall graduated from Presbyterian College in December 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She also passed the teaching licensure exams in December 2024. She has an Elementary Education Add-on Endorsement and is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED). Duvall is currently a teacher/caregiver at Hickory Tickory Tots Learning Center. She worked alongside Hickory Tavern School (HTS) First-Grade Teacher Katherine Thomas for her practicum. Duvall is a Raider and was a student at HTS from kindergarten to eighth grade and graduated from Laurens District 55 High School (LDHS). She was part of the 2020-2021 LDHS Teacher Cadet Program under Kimberly Martin. HTS Principal Emily Starling is ecstatic to have Duvall on her teaching team.

Emily Fleming graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lander University. She was on the Lander University President’s List from 2022 to 2024. She works as the Office Manager at Spike’s After School. She has worked as an after-school counselor and a summer camp counselor. She is CPR-certified and has over 400 hours of experience in the classroom. She was a student teacher at Gray Court-Owings (GCO) School in Fall 2024 under the wings of Fifth-Grade Teacher and Teaching Specialist Tammy Childress. GCO Teacher Victoria Jordan excitedly welcomed Fleming to the GCO Family.

Michelle Moon earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Lander University in December 2024. She is certified in the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Action for A Cleaner Tomorrow environmental education program and the SciStarter Citizen Science program. Moon has over 750 hours of classroom experience and impressive skills in the use of technology. In early 2024, she earned teaching experience at Waterloo Elementary School (WES) under Fourth-Grade Teacher Lisa Nelson and later served as a student teacher in Victoria Jordan’s third-grade class at GCO. Jordan was overjoyed to witness Moon sign her LCSD 55 Letter of Intent.

Amanda Smith was a student at EB Morse Elementary (EBM), Laurens Middle School (LMS), and LDHS. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Smith will graduate in May 2025. She has already passed the Praxis Teaching Licensure examinations. She will be under the wings of 2024-2025 HTS Teacher of the Year Shannon Aviles for elementary student teaching and with HTS Special Education Teacher Cassandra Gaines for special education student teaching. Smith has been part of the LCSD 55 Family as a paraprofessional since August 2024. She is Abbie Hudson’s teaching assistant in the three and four-year-old special education classes at HTS. HTS Principal Starling is extremely delighted to see Smith transition into a full-time teacher.

Ashley Walker was a student at EBM, Ford Elementary School (FES), and LDHS. She has always wanted to become a teacher and her experience as a student in the LDHS Teacher Cadet Program was pivotal in her decision to become an educator. She graduated from Lander University in December 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She was in the Cheer, Acro, and Tumbling Teams and a consistent Dean’s Lister at Lander University. She has passed the Teaching Praxis examinations and is certified in CPR and First Aid. She completed her student teaching at WES under Teaching Specialist and Second-Grade Teacher Angela Abercrombie. FES Principal Kimberly Penland was overjoyed to witness Walker sign her letter of intent to teach in LCSD 55.

LCSD 55 Superintendent Dr. Jody Penland and LCSD 55 Assistant Superintendent Rhett Harris witnessed the event along with the Human Resources Department, district staff members, school administrators, school staff members, and family members of the newly signed educators.

Kimberly Penland said, “I am very proud and excited to have Ashley Walker join our staff as a teacher at Ford Elementary School. I am especially proud because she attended Ford as an elementary student. I feel that she has come back ‘home’ to make a difference in the lives of our students. I observed Ms. Walker’s strengths as a teacher when she started her student teaching experiences at Waterloo Elementary last school year. She has already shown her strengths in classroom management and instruction in the classes she has worked in at Ford as a substitute teacher. I know that she will make a positive impact on student achievement and school climate with her work ethic, ability to set high expectations, and ability to build positive relationships with students and staff.”

Abercrombie also witnessed Ashley Walker’s strengths. She said, “During her time in my class, Ashley was always willing to jump in and help in any way possible. She was very self-motivated and needed very little direction. She was always willing to go above and beyond. She jumped into and started teaching within a matter of weeks and continued teaching well past the time that she was required to teach because she wanted more experience.

During her time at WES, she created a bond with the class, and they loved and respected her. There were MANY tears shed on her last day with us. I am excited that she is joining the L55 team and will be teaching at the school that she attended as a student, Ford Elementary. I hope she does great things at FES.”

Elaine and Ryan Walker, parents of Ashley Walker, are extremely proud of their daughter. Mrs. Walker said, “We are so honored to have our daughter dedicate her life to young children. Ashley has a great gift of instilling a love for learning. She will nurture her students’ curiosity and help develop their emotional intelligence. We believe her impact will extend beyond the classroom, shaping the future of her students and the broader community.”

The LCSD 55 Teacher Signing Day is a cause for celebration. Mrs. Madden said, “Although there is a teacher shortage, we have been able to secure educators for the beginning of next school year. Many of these educators are homegrown, and it is refreshing to show that they are willing to return home after college and help their community. We are thrilled to welcome these individuals to Laurens 55 and we look forward to working with them as they create engaging and meaningful learning environments for our students.”

Alicia Scott serves as the LCSD 55 Human Resources Special Projects Coordinator and Recruiter. She said, “We are excited to have our former student teachers become a permanent part of the Laurens 55 family. Having worked as student teachers under the guidance of our experienced and exceptional educators, they bring a unique blend of fresh perspectives and proven teaching practices to the classroom. Our new teachers have the unique ability to leave a lasting impact by being positive role models and nurturing the dreams and aspirations of every student they teach.”

Walker said, “I’m incredibly excited and proud to be starting my career in Laurens 55. There’s a lot of energy and potential here, and I look forward to being part of that positive change. I feel a deep connection to the community, and there’s a real sense of responsibility to help guide the next generation of students toward success, just like the teachers who influenced me when I was in their shoes.”

The Teacher Signing Day participants have undergone interviews and background checks. They will be offered an official contract for the 2025 – 2026 school year between now and the beginning of the next school year, and undergo the School Board approval process. Their employment is subject to School Board approval.

At this time, LCSD 55 has signed Duvall, Fleming, Moon, and Walker to officially start as long-term substitute teachers at HTS, GCO, Laurens Elementary School, and Ford Elementary School, respectively.

The community is encouraged to reach Alicia Scott for teaching opportunities in LCSD 55. Please reach her at [email protected].