Teachers are amazing. Many of us may think that even more so after becoming temporary “teachers” during quarantine! But there always are a few who stand out for their extraordinary ways. Each year the Anderson County public school districts recognize these outstanding teachers with the Teacher of the Year award. Let us introduce you to the 2020 winners from each of the districts.
District One
Hannah Heath of Easley is Teacher of the Year in District One. Heath is married to Dylan Heath. They live in the Wren Community of Easley and are expecting their first child in May.
Heath grew up in Powdersville and is a product of District One’s schools. She graduated from Wren High School, earned her bachelor’s degree from North Greenville University, and received her master’s degree in administration and supervision from Anderson University. Heath said she always knew she wanted to make an impact on kids’ lives, and after teaching in Vacation Bible School at church, she decided to become a teacher. She is a lifelong member of White Plains Baptist Church in Pelzer where she is very involved in the children’s ministries.
Heath teaches fourth grade at Powdersville Elementary, where she also attended school as a student. Her current principal, Brad Moore, was also her fourth grade teacher. Heath said Moore had a huge impact on her life from early on. As a student, she remembers his class being fun and how well he connected with his students. His fun personality along with the connections he made influenced Heath to want to have the same impact on her students.
“I’m thankful for his influence on my life as a student and as a professional educator,” said Heath. “Many educators across our district have had an impact on my life as well, as a student growing up and now as a teacher.” As her principal, Heath said, Moore encourages teachers to take risks and allows them the freedom to try new ideas. “He’s the first person to say ‘yes, go for it,’” she said. He challenges everyone to be the best, and he emphasizes a positive school culture and that carries over into the classrooms, she added.
Some of her favorite memories are when parents can join her and the students at school to celebrate the students’ accomplishments. Last year they celebrated the students’ writing with a Starbucks-themed Star Writers Cafe. They also celebrated the multiplication and division unit with a Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course in which students solved math problems as they worked through the course.
Heath is also the Powdersville Middle School Girls Basketball Coach. This is her seventh year teaching and sixth year as head coach. The team won the Division 2 AOP Championship last season.
When Heath was chosen as the district Teacher of the Year, she said it was truly one of the highest honors she could have ever imagined. She expressed how blessed she feels to “work in the best district in the state” and that she is thankful for the support from many colleagues, district office staff, and the school board.
Heath concluded, “This year has definitely been unique and challenging, but my message to our district is to do whatever it takes to make a difference this year and embrace the challenge. Students will remember our smiles, even through a mask. We must remember our purpose and our ‘why’ and continue to be a light during these unusual times.”
District Two
District Two’s Teacher of the Year is Katherine Dobbs of Simpsonville. Dobbs is engaged to her fiancé, Samson, and has a stepson, Mason, and two rescue dogs.
Dobbs grew up in Columbia and received her BA in studio art from the College of Charleston in 2013. She received her MAT in art education at Converse College, which is when she fell in love with the Upstate. She taught art classes at the Spartanburg Art Museum while she was at Converse and has always loved working with, and teaching, art to children. She said she wanted to be a teacher because of her love of working with students and seeing them succeed. Her parents also encouraged her to pursue a teaching career, believing that it would be a good fit.
She started teaching at Marshall Primary School in August 2016 and has loved working in District Two ever since. “I have been so lucky to have learned from the incredibly hard-working and inspiring teachers here in our district, and I have received so much support from the MPS teachers, our administration, our staff, and the other art teachers/support staff in the district,” she said, adding, “I cannot thank my District Two friends enough for all they have done to help me along the way! I also grew up watching and learning from my mom, who is a teacher in Charleston, and I’ve learned so much from many other educators in my family who came before me!”
Dobbs feels teaching art is such an incredible way to build relationships and connections with students; it lets them express themselves, build confidence, and use their imagination in so many ways. “Art brings a smile to students’ faces,” she said. Dobbs also believes that working in education is an amazing way to be a part of a child’s life and help to build a strong, positive foundation for youth. She believes teachers have the power to make the educational experience as positive and amazing as possible for students, and she aims to continue pursuing that goal.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me along this journey! I was so excited and speechless when I was awarded this honor. It makes me incredibly happy to be representing my school and representing all of the amazing, dedicated teachers of School District Two!” Dobbs concluded, “I will continue to do my best to inspire and teach children, despite the challenges we are facing currently. I will always remember that the students come first, and, as teachers, we will always rise to the challenge no matter what we face!”
District Three
District Three Teacher of the Year is Carly Herron of Anderson. Herron married her high school sweetheart, Zach Herron, six years ago and they have a one-year old son, James. They are also pet parents of two retired racing greyhounds, Lana and Mickey. When Herron isn’t teaching or working on lesson plans, she enjoys designing classroom decor and activities online and making chalkboards .
Herron has been teaching for nine years, all of them at Flat Rock Elementary School. She taught second grade her first six years, then began teaching kindergarten, which she believes is a better fit. As the daughter of a career first grade teacher, Herron’s childhood was spent witnessing what it truly meant to be an outstanding educator. That made her choice to work in education clear.
Herron said her favorite thing about teaching is the children. “Fostering a love for learning, reading, and thinking is what drives me. Most of all, showing my students what love is and learning from them is why I show up to work every day,” she said.
An interesting tidbit about Herron is that she attended Anderson District Three beginning in kindergarten at Starr Elementary and graduated from Crescent High School in 2008. Then, when it was announced that she was the District Teacher of the Year, imagine her awe. “I felt both grateful and honored. How special it is to have come full circle in the district that I love.”
Looking back at her time in school, Herron recalled her favorite teacher, Tim Bouchillon. She said he showed her how to “be real” with her students, love them, and teach what truly matters. But she is quick to state the mentor that made the biggest impact on her was her “Mama.” As a first-grade teacher, Instructional coach, and reading Coach, Herron said, her mother understood teaching from every angle and was always there to answer questions and support her when needed.
As with many of the other teachers around our county, and even the entire country, Herron experienced the craziness of the 2020 pandemic firsthand and had to address and tackle the new challenges presented by all that took place. “This year has definitely posed some challenges because of COVID-19,” she said. “However, I am learning to adjust and teach in new ways that I haven’t before to ensure my students continue to receive a quality education. While things are different, my goal is for students to stay safe, feel loved, and learn!”
District Four
Susan Carroll of Townville is the District Four Teacher of the Year. Carroll has been married to her husband, Mike, for 22 years and they have four children, daughters Madison and Mallory, and two sons, Brett and Brogan, as well as three dogs and 23 chickens. When she is not teaching or planning lessons, she enjoys hiking, traveling, spending time with family, reading and going to concerts.
Carroll has been teaching for 25 years and part of the reason she became a teacher was some amazing teachers she had while growing up. They impacted her life so much she still keeps in touch with several of them regularly. These teachers have been her inspiration through the years, as they were always showing students how much they cared about them. She said one memorable experience she had was when she was able to teach for a few years at her childhood school with several of her former teachers. In addition to the influence of the teachers she had growing up, Carroll credits her parents, who always encouraged her and instilled in her the love of school and learning. Carroll commented, “My goal as a teacher is to help children develop that love of learning and realize that learning is a lifelong adventure. It is a privilege to be part of their journey!”
Her favorite thing about teaching is watching students reach milestones and accomplish goals. Currently, she works with elementary students but previously when she worked with adult education students, she found it so exciting being able to witness those students earn their diploma, as she feels earning a diploma changes lives. “It was such a powerful moment to witness” Carroll noted. “Being able to help students reach the next level, whatever that level may be, is so exciting. It truly is what motivates me every single day.”
When told she won the District 4 Teacher of the Year award Carroll remarked, “I was completely floored. It has been a deeply humbling experience. I work with such smart, kind and dedicated people. To be selected by them leaves me speechless.” Carroll concluded, “It is truly an honor to represent the teachers of my school and my district. Anderson School District Four is a very special place. I cannot say enough about the tremendous leadership of our superintendent, Dr. Joanne Avery, and my principal, Denise Fredericks. It is such a joy to come to work knowing that the needs of the children and of the staff are the top priority.”
District Five
School District Five’s Teacher of the Year is Carrie Y. Simpson of Honea Path. Simpson is married to Warren Simpson, also a teacher who received the Teacher of the Year award in School District Two for the 2019-2020 school year. They are the parents of two daughters, Sydney and Gracyn, and three rescue animals, cats Twilight and Moonlight and a dog, Sapphire.
Teaching has been a part of Simpson’s life from a young age because her mother was a middle school teacher, and she spent much of her childhood around schools. Simpson recalled, “Every new school year was something I eagerly anticipated because my mom would let me help create bulletin boards, make copies and arrange her classroom. Anything that revolved around teaching, I adored.”
From an early age Simpson wanted to be a middle school teacher like her mom and had planned out exactly what she wanted to teach. The one subject that would never be an option was math, which she said she “despised with a passion.” As a student she struggled greatly in math. Destiny had a different plan for her, though. When she began her career, teaching jobs were hard to find, so she took the only offer available, teaching seventh grade science and of all things, math. In her second year, the school hired a math consultant, Dr. Patty Smith, and Simpson began to have hope. Smith showed Simpson the power of working out math problems using engaging, hands-on activities. Smith’s mentorship instilled a new passion for math in Simpson.
Simpson believes there is more to education than being a speaker in front of the class, and there is more to being successful in life than regurgitating math facts. In addition to showing the real-world application of math by designing lessons such as shopping sprees where students have a budget and evaluating how math calculations could have saved the Titanic, she has also helped students recognize the importance of relationships by building trust using community circles where every student has the opportunity to discuss their concerns and provide suggestions on life issues. She also created an environment of encouragement that bolsters the confidence of the most uncertain, self-doubting students where they can find success in areas where they once imagined it was out of reach.
Considering her discouraging history with math as a student, she feels one of her greatest accomplishments was receiving national board certification in mathematics. When she began her career, she had someone to step in and be her supporter; this gave her the desire to give back what once was given to her and help new teachers and colleagues. Simpson concluded, “Relationships do not end with students, for they are equally important with colleagues.”
