Lexington One names Billue District Teacher of the Year
April 1, 2015
LEXINGTON, SC – Lexington County School District One proudly named Sheryn D. Billue its newest District Teacher of the Year at its annual Teacher of the Year Celebration honoring outstanding teachers who exemplify a commitment and dedication to educating students.
The special superhero-themed celebration took place Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. at the Lexington One Performing Arts Center located at River Bluff High School.
In her acceptance speech Billue said, “Teachers aren’t in it for the income, they’re in it for the outcome.”
Billue believes in using innovative techniques to reach all students. Her students get the very best educational experience each and every time they enter her classroom.
Her calm demeanor and high expectations for students are a combination that works. Through thought-provoking, rigorous activities and real-world projects, she challenges students to work hard, excel and reach their goals.
By encouraging students and building a sense of community, Billue enables students to become leaders in their school and in the community.
Billue wrote in her application, “I am committed to continuous improvement, and I owe it to my students, as well as the community, to bring excellence, consistency, diligence and warmth to my job.”
Currently an AP Statistics and International Baccalaureate Mathematics Teacher at Lexington High School, Billue has 19 years of educational experience. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in geography from Georgia State University and credentials from Benedict College’s Armed Forces Teacher Education and Recruitment Program. She is certified in mathematics and advanced placement and endorsed in gifted and talented. She also earned certified quality engineer and certified quality technician certifications from the Board of American Society for Quality.
She is a member of the American Statistics Association, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Mathematical Association of America, Palmetto State Teachers Association, and South Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Billue now goes on to compete in the state-level Teacher of the Year program next year.
Earlier this fall, staff at each Lexington One school chose a 2014–2015 school-level teacher of the year. Those school-level teachers of the year completed written application, which were read by teams of judges. The applications with the top 10 scores were then judged by yet another team of judges.
From that judging process, five were named finalists in the district-level competition: Lexington Elementary Technology Integration Specialist Suzanne M. Brooks, Lexington High AP Statistics and International Baccalaureate Teacher Sheryn D. Billue, Pleasant Hill Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Cheryl H. Banks, River Bluff High Director of Bands Kenneth D. Turner and Rocky Creek Elementary Third-Grade Teacher Katie R. Herndon.
Another panel of judges spent a day interviewing the finalists and observing these five teachers as they taught.
The district’s other school-level Teachers of the Year include Carolina Springs Elementary Fifth- Grade English Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher Tamela Jett; Carolina Springs Middle Eighth-Grade Science Teacher Teresa Gibbons; Forts Pond Elementary Art Teacher Lisa Thomas; Gilbert Elementary Fourth-Grade Teacher Jamie Brunson; Gilbert High Algebra Teacher Christina Bosserman; Gilbert Middle Eighth-Grade Science Teacher Pamela Humphries; Gilbert Primary Kindergarten Teacher Amy Van Horne; Lake Murray Elementary Music Teacher Amy Shealy; Lexington Middle Sixth-Grade Science Teacher Charlene Jones; Lexington Technology Center Marketing Teacher Marcy O’Brien; Meadow Glen Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Aubrey Catone; Meadow Glen Middle iCivics Teacher Melody Shafer; Midway Elementary Fifth-Grade Teacher Katie McKinley; New Providence Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Kay Derrick; Oak Grove Elementary Second-Grade Teacher Cassie Stone; Pelion Elementary School Counselor Julie Long; Pelion High Band Director Otto Hage; Pelion Middle Industrial Technology and STEM Academy Teacher John Leneschmidt; Pleasant Hill Middle Sixth-Grade Social Studies Teacher Steve Woodyard; Red Bank Elementary Second-Grade Teacher Meghan Cegelis; Saxe Gotha Elementary Special Education Teacher Patricia Dutton; White Knoll Elementary ESOL Teacher Jennifer Gillespie; White Knoll Middle Sixth-Grade Mathematics Teacher Joan Conger; White Knoll High NJROTC Instructor 1st Sgt. David Pelley.
