Monday, March 2, 2015
Spearman Announces First Finalist for Teacher of the Year
Sumter, SC – Today State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced the first of five finalists for South Carolina’s prestigious Teacher of the Year award.
“Being a finalist for this award is a great achievement that should be celebrated,” said Spearman from Sumter High School. “This will be a truly memorable week as I try to meet each finalist in person and share the exciting news with them. This is a wonderful opportunity for local communities to celebrate the success we see in our public schools every day by recognizing these five finalists,” concluded Spearman.
Superintendent Spearman traveled to Sumter and told teacher Suzanne Koty that she was one of five finalists for this year’s Teacher of the Year award. Koty teaches English and the Theory of Knowledge at Sumter High School in the Sumter School District. She first worked in the medical field, but after volunteering at a local school, Koty discovered her love for teaching. She strengthens her own knowledge through continuous research and contributes to her field as a leader in the local chapter of the National Writing Project.
“I am so proud of Suzanne Koty and all the hard work she puts in day in and day out at Sumter High School,” said Sumter School District Superintendent Dr. J. Frank Baker. “The spotlight is on Ms. Koty but she represents all the great teachers we have in Sumter County.”
“Suzanne is a wonderful part of our school community here at Sumter High,” said Mr. Dana Fall, Sumter High School Principal. “She is bright, articulate, and passionate about being an educator. She is a model of teaching excellence and an example of what great teachers accomplish in Sumter on behalf of their students,” concluded Fall.
As a finalist, Koty is in the running for the state’s Teacher of the Year honor, which comes with a grand prize of $25,000 and a new BMW to drive for a year. The four remaining finalists will each receive a check for $10,000. All 82 school districts select a district teacher of the year, and the five finalists are selected from this pool.
Koty will represent Sumter School District at the 50th anniversary of the South Carolina Teacher of the Year Celebration on Wednesday, April 22 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The annual celebration is a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Education and South Carolina Future Minds, the nonprofit organization that connects private support to South Carolina's public schools. For tickets and more information, visit the South Carolina Future Minds Teacher of the Year Web page here.
