Tyquaisha Ingram did not know how to react when she was announced as the new Aiken County
Public Schools First Year Teacher of the Year during a reception held at Jackson Middle in April.
First, there was genuine shock for the second-grade teacher at East Aiken School of the Arts –
then the realization of what had just taken place finally began to sink in.
“I am just very excited right now,” Ingram stated moments after leaving the stage. “I didn’t really
know what to do for a moment there.”
Joining Ingram on stage were members of the school district’s First Year Teacher of the Year
Honor Court, also announced during the reception, which included the following teachers:
- Tyquaisha Ingram (East Aiken School of the Arts/Second Grade Teacher)
- Hannah Crawford (Paul Knox Middle School/Eighth Grade Teacher)
- Jessica Herndon (Greendale Elementary School/Kindergarten Teacher)
- Taylor Harling (Redcliffe Elementary School/Third Grade Teacher)
- Kaylee Heath (J.D. Lever Elementary School/Third Grade Teacher)
Ingram said she enjoyed an excellent start to the 2017-18 school year, but admitted hitting a
tough stretch following the Christmas holidays, something she was able to overcome.
“I was able to really recuperate during spring break, and I am in it for the long run,” Ingram
added. “I’m looking forward to coming back next year in second grade, but I already know that I
will eventually be teaching in third grade so I am excited about that as well.”
The Aiken County Public School District’s First Year Teacher of the Year honorees for the 2017-18 school year included the following educators:
NOTE: Some schools did not have a first year teacher on staff during the 2017-18 school year
- Rebecca Hosey (Aiken Elementary/Third Grade Teacher)
- Kimberly Floyd (Aiken High School/Math Teacher)
- Jerrod Longfellow (Aiken Middle School/Special Education)
- Donna Jimenez (Aiken Performing Arts Academy/Elementary Teacher)
- Emily Evenson (Busbee-Corbett Elementary-Middle School/Counselor)
- Jeannie Simmons (Byrd Elementary School/Media Specialist)
- Whitney Rinder (Chukker Creek Elementary/Fifth Grade Teacher)
- Tyquaisha Ingram (East Aiken School of the Arts/Second Grade Teacher)
- Jessica Herndon (Greendale Elementary School/Kindergarten Teacher)
- Devone McKie (Hammond Hill Elementary/Second Grade Teacher)
- Jake Key (Horse Creek Academy/Physical Education Teacher)
- Kaylee Heath (J.D. Lever Elementary School/Third Grade Teacher)
- Victoria “Tori” Reeves (Jefferson Elementary School/Third Grade Teacher)
- Jordan Mock (Midland Valley High School/Social Studies Teacher)
- Jayson Oxendine (North Augusta Elementary School/Fifth Grade Teacher)
- Richard Ball (North Augusta High School/Math Teacher)
- Meredith Poldrack-Segrist (North Augusta Middle School/ELA Teacher)
- Alexis Hallingquest (Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School/First Grade Teacher)
- Hannah Crawford (Paul Knox Middle School/Eighth Grade Teacher)
- Taylor Harling (Redcliffe Elementary School/Third Grade Teacher)
- Summer Mundy (Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary/Second Grade Teacher)
- Erica Caldwell (Schofield Middle School/Special Education Teacher)
- Christopher Kitchens (Silver Bluff High School/English Teacher)
- Osman Sabari (South Aiken High School/Choral and Band Teacher)
- Jeffrey “Alex” Derrick (Wagener-Salley High School/Agriculture Teacher)
- Alex “Spencer” Weatherman (Warrenville Elementary School/Fourth Grade Teacher)
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2018 PR FIRST YEAR TEACHERS HONORED