Plain Elementary’s Suzanne Billings named Greenville County Teacher of the Year – Greenville Journal

Posted: August 17, 2017 at 3:47 pm


without comments

2017-18 Greenville County Teacher of the Year Suzanne Billings, fourth-grade teacher at Plain Elementary.

Plain Elementary fourth-grade teacher Suzanne Billings is Greenville Countys Teacher of the Year.

Billings, who has 18 years of teaching experience, will now compete for state Teacher of the Year honors.

First runner-up is Anjosia Ellerbe, business education teacher at Wade Hampton High School. Second runner-up is Erin Rigot, a communications teacher at League Academy. Ashley Jenkins, a 10th grade world history teacher at Woodmont High School, was named third runner-up.

Billings daily mantra is Imagine. Create. Inspire.

Teaching is imagining the purpose of the knowledge, creating an understanding and desire to utilize this information, and then applying and inspiring uses for new learning, she wrote in her Teacher of the Year application. My reward in teaching is observing students who image, create, and inspire for themselves, not just for a teacher or parent.

Billings said seeing her father, a basketball and softball coach, implement mentoring skills in sports and focus on not just improving physical skills but also developing both character and self-confidence led her to become a teacher.

She realized the breadth of his influence when one of her teammates wrote her college essay about Billings father. She said my dad made the most significant impact on her personal development, Billings wrote. I knew I wanted to be like my dad and inspire others to achieve their best and positively impact their personal growth and success.

Billings creates a positive, inclusive classroom community. I ensure each student views him or herself as a speaker, listener, teacher, and supporter, she said. This community team environment instills ownership of learning and allows each students talents and abilities to shine.

Other Greenville County Teacher of the Year finalists were Scott Buhr, physics and earth science, Hillcrest High School; Jeremy Bowen, mathematics, J.L. Mann; David Dejesa, social studies-speech and debate, Riverside High School; Chancey Greco, sixth-grade English Language Arts, Greenville Middle Academy; Lauren Long, eighth-grade English, Hillcrest Middle School; and Thomas McAuliff, third grade, Taylors Elementary School.

In addition to an application and an interview, the 10 finalists were observed in the classroom by the judges.

Katie Inclan, a second-grade teacher at Plain Elementary, was named the elementary-level Emerging Teacher of the Year.

Greenville Middle Academy seventh-grade science teacher Matt Giacalone is secondary-level Emerging Teacher of the Year.

The Emerging Teacher of the Year awards are sponsored by Greenville Federal Credit Union and recognize second- or third-year teachers for outstanding performance. Each receives $500, a crystal award, and $500 for their school.

Issues that will test Greenville County Council in the coming year bubbled to the surface

Greenville County Schools board of trustees held its monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Council discussed a resolution to reject the expenditure of state funds for the U.S. Refugee

Anderson, Pickens and Spartanburg counties stay the same

Original post:
Plain Elementary's Suzanne Billings named Greenville County Teacher of the Year - Greenville Journal

Related Posts

Written by simmons |

August 17th, 2017 at 3:47 pm




matomo tracker