State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman surprised North Augusta High School teacher, Dr. Elisabeth Hardy, at her school with news that she has been selected as one of five finalists for the South Carolina Teacher of the Year award.  

"Outstanding educators are the ones who care deeply about their students and Elisabeth is a model of this important characteristic ," said Superintendent Spearman. "I am so proud of her accomplishments and passion for teaching and know that she will represent the Aiken school community well." 

Dr. Hardy is a 12th grade English and Advanced Placement teacher at North Augusta High School in the Aiken County School District. She believes educators, should be passionate about creating a culture of care for every student.  Each year her classes collaborate to choreograph, produce, promote, and fund an entirely student-led production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This performance is a testament to her student driven approach to teaching. 

“Excellent teachers are the foundation of any high-quality educational endeavor and here in Aiken County we are thrilled to have one of the top teaching professionals in the nation in Dr. Elisabeth Hardy," said Aiken County Schools superintendent Dr. Sean Alford.

"Dr. Hardy’s limitless passion for her students is infectious and her dedication to her craft knows no bounds. Dr. Hardy has served as an outstanding role model as our school district’s current Teacher of the Year, and I cannot think of a better teacher or a better person to best represent the great teachers of South Carolina. We congratulate Dr. Hardy on being named as a state Teacher of the Year finalist and wish her all the best in the state Teacher of the Year selection process.” 

As one of five finalists, Dr. Hardy will receive $10,000 and go on to the next stage of competition which involves an in-person interview with a team of expert judges. The South Carolina Teacher of the Year Gala will be held May 3rd in Columbia.  The overall winner receives a total of $25,000 and gets to drive a brand new BMW for one year while advocating for the teaching profession across the state.  

The Teacher of the Year program celebrates excellence and strengthens the teaching force by honoring and recognizing exceptional teachers on a district, state, and national level. These awards not only assist in retention efforts but serve as a powerful recruitment tool.

The South Carolina Teacher of the Year serves for one school year as a roving ambassador providing mentoring, attending speaking engagements, working with teacher cadets and teaching fellows, leading the State Teacher Forum, and serving as the state spokesperson for over 48,000 educators.