The Aiken County Public School District (ACPSD) announced Leavelle McCampbell Middle School teacher Allison Verhotz as the District’s 2018-19 during a special reception held Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at Aiken High School. All first Year Teacher of the Year award winners and First Year Teacher of the Year Honor Court members were also recognized.
Verhotz, a native of Ohio, said she has enjoyed seeing her students become more productive in their academic work while also making strides as individuals.
“The best thing has been watching my students grow and develop during the school year and become more confident,” stated Verhotz. “This year has been great. It’s been a great move for me, being in an environment where everyone wants to be together and work together.”
Aiken County Public Schools 2018-2019 First Year Teachers of the Year include John Neumar (Aiken County Career & Technology Center); James Rachels (Aiken Elementary School); Raven Johnson (Aiken High School); Zachary Hutto (Aiken Middle School); Robin Etheredge (Belvedere Elementary School); Anna Brenner (Byrd Elementary School); Yanfei Gao (Center for Innovative Learning); Brianna McCain (Chukker Creek Elementary School); Laura Foley (Clearwater Elementary School); Brenna A. Pack (Busbee Elementary School); Sydney Karlson (East Aiken School of the Arts); Michelle Morgan (Gloverville Elementary School); Kelsey Knight (Greendale Elementary School); Kaitlyn Shaw (Hammond Hill Elementary School); Jayde Brooks (J.D. Lever Elementary School); Ashley Shealy (Jackson Middle School); Aneshia Peterson (Jefferson Elementary School); Priscilla Collins (LBC Middle School); Allison Verhotz (Leavelle McCampbell Middle School); Alicia Parks (Kennedy Middle School); Mary Schwartz (Midland Valley High School); Katie Swartzentruber (Millbrook Elementary School); Caitlyn Smoldt (Mossy Creek Elementary School); Rachel Ayers (North Augusta Elementary School); Brooke Meeler (Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School); Heather Parliament (Paul Knox Middle School); Katlyn Wilson (Redcliffe Elementary School); Ashley Nalley (Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary School); Bailey Coble (Ridge Spring-Monetta High School); Samuel Bedenbaugh (Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle School); Matthew Hayes (South Aiken High School); Eva Marie Jackson (Wagener-Salley High School); and Halie West (Warrenville Elementary School).
First Year Teacher of the Year honorees in Aiken County Public Schools are nominated by mentors and selected by each school’s First Year Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, a group including, at a minimum, a member of the administrative team, school level mentors, and the school’s current First Year Teacher of the Year.
During the screening process, committee members utilize a scoring sheet assigning varying numbers of points for such items as educational history and professional development activities, teaching philosophy, initial teaching experience/reflection, and recommendation letters..
An additional process is then undertaken to select the First Year Teacher of the Year Honor Court, from which the 2018-19 First Year Teacher of the Year is chosen. The Selection Committee considers information provided by the candidates themselves as part of the process in determining the first year teacher of the year who will best represent the district.
Named to the 2018-19 First Year Teacher of the Year Honor Court were Zachary Hutto (Aiken Middle School); Kaitlyn Shaw (Hammond Hill Elementary School); Allison Verhotz (Leavelle McCampbell Middle School); Brooke Meeler (Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School); and Heather Parliament (Paul Knox Middle School).
Congratulations to all of these outstanding first year teaching professionals on being selected as their school’s First Year Teacher of the Year.
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LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2019 PR DISTRICT NAMES FYTOY, HONORS FIRST YEAR TEACHERS