5 finalists named for Beaufort County teacher of the year amid COVID-19 classes
Beaufort County School District has named five finalists for its annual Teacher of the Year award.
More than 30 school-level teachers of the year were named in April, about a month into the statewide shutdown of school buildings for COVID-19.
Those teachers could apply for the district-level award in July, where they were scored by a panel of parents, former educators, and community leaders from across Beaufort County to determine the five finalists.
The finalists were surprised in school buildings or at their homes when told of the announcement.
“Julie, we’re not Publisher’s Clearing House,” Pritchardville Elementary School principal Brenda Blue said in her announcement to counselor Julie Markle. “But we are here to let you know you’re one of the five finalists for teacher of the year.”
The district’s current teacher of the year is Michelle Gordon, a math teacher at Bluffton High School.
A new District Teacher of the Year is typically named in a September reception and ceremony for all school teachers of the year. The school district has not finalized “alternative arrangements in light of COVID-19,” according to spokeswoman Candace Bruder.
The finalists are:
Megan DeWeese, first-grade teacher at Okatie Elementary
Julie Markle, school counselor at Pritchardville Elementary
Jonathan Miller, social studies teacher at Beaufort High School
Michelle Taylor, third-grade teacher at Hilton Head Island IB Elementary
Roderick Williams, director of Band at Battery Creek High School
Megan DeWeese
DeWeese has taught at Okatie Elementary School for five years — and in that time, she’s completed both a masters and doctorate degree.
During spring school closures, she read with students remotely every week in addition to holding twice-weekly class meetings.
“Her day extended into the evenings when it was needed,” principal Jamie Pinckney said. “I am extremely proud of her accomplishments, (and) wish I had a tenth of her enthusiasm and energy.”
Julie Markle
Pritchardville Elementary School principal Brenda Blue said that Markle, a school counselor, “truly understands the importance of teamwork and collaboration in the school environment.”
Markle is conducting Zoom sessions for classrooms, groups and individual students to provide emotional support and lessons during remote learning. For the start of the school year, she ran Zoom sessions for parents to get tech support or “a friendly face.”
Markle said Sept. 8 that the pandemic had made her aware of “the importance of human connection.”
“It’s important for mental well being,” she said. “I’ve found it encouraging to see the school community come together.”
Jonathan Miller
Miller is a U.S. history teacher at Beaufort High School in his sixth year of teaching.
Principal Charity Summers said Miller “understands that students achieve when you connect them to learning that is of great interest to them.”
For Miller, that means taking students on weeklong field trips to Europe, including one commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
It also means advising the school’s Student Council, football and basketball homecomings and Rising Freshmen day, in addition to attending students’ concerts, games and events.
Michelle Taylor
Taylor teaches “sheltered” classes for English learners and recent immigrants at Hilton Head IB Island Elementary School, making grade-level standards accessible to students with limited English proficiency.
Throughout the pandemic, she has been “an IT as well as an instructional leader,” according to principal Sarah Owen.
“Some of the students in Ms. Taylor’s class have had trouble accessing the Internet, so she works one on one with families to try to resolve all of these issues so that they can participate fully in class instruction,” Owen said.
Rod Williams
Williams has worked as the band director for Battery Creek High School for three years. In 2019, the school’s marching band was one of 10 across the country selected to perform in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade.
Principal Chad Cox described Williams, an alumnus of the high school, as “a legend in our community.”
“Mr. Williams took our band from a handful of members to the largest band in our school district,” Cox said. “He inspires our students and serves as a father figure for many students at BCHS.”
This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 2:34 PM.