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Lighting in the James A. Taylor Activities Center had been dimmed, but the room was filled with the very brightest stars with the return of the Ï㽶ӰÊÓ (ACPSD) Stars of Public Education banquet held May 12, 2022, when educators, administrators, support staff, District staff, and School Board members celebrated the nominees at the first in-person event since 2019.

The Stars of Public Education event celebrates the best and the brightest throughout the district in five categories, including the Giving Even More (GEM) award, First Year Teacher of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, and Principal of the Year. Each category also has an Honor Court made up of individuals selected through a rigorous application and interview process.

“Congratulations to our Stars,” ACPSD Superintendent King Laurence said. “Your peers and colleagues recognize the impact that you have on the lives of students and families, and that is why they singled you out as an example of the service we all want to offer.”

The GEM award highlights and recognizes classified, non-instructional staff who provide exemplary service throughout the District. This year’s GEM award winner is Ms. Randi Mitchell, Mossy Creek Elementary School nurse.

“I am really excited and honored and I hope to represent all of nursing well because this year has been a tough year and it’s been very tough on all of us,” stated Mitchell. “We’ve made it through and we’re all still here and still standing loving our jobs so that’s what I’m excited about. We all work hard and have given it our all. Everybody in the school district is a GEM to me after what we went through and overcame so I am just excited and honored.”

The GEM Honor Court also included Hope Mullins, Human Resources Clerk for Employee Relations, Division of Administration and HR; Ashley Bodine, Special Programs Secretary, Division of Instruction; Shannon Boatwright, Special Education Aide and Bus Driver, Jefferson Elementary School; and Tfifany Palmer, Career Specialist, Kennedy Middle School.

The First Year Teacher of the Year category acknowledges the exceptionally skillful and dedicated first-year educators who successfully navigated what most say is the toughest year in their teaching career, going above and beyond for their students. This year’s First Year Teacher of the Year is Ms. Anna Keistler, Mossy Creek Elementary School fourth grade teacher.

“I am very excited, honored, and grateful and I am ready to go tell my students about this first thing in the morning and hear their excitement,” commented Keistler. “They’ve been rooting for me throughout this whole journey and it’s been really sweet. It’s been a crazy year my first year and challenging, but extremely rewarding and just a reminder of why I chose this profession. This is where I want to be.”

The First Year Teacher of the Year Honor Court also included Bryan Hadden, fifth grade teacher at Belvedere Elementary; Vivian Martin, third grade teacher at Graniteville Elementary; Emily Lockridge, school counselor at North Augusta Middle; and Danielle Altringer, English teacher at South Aiken High. 

The Teacher of the Year category recognizes outstanding educators who have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues. They play active roles in their schools and communities and stand out as leaders. 

This year’s Teacher of the Year is Ms. Rhett Sherman, Hammond Hill Elementary School reading interventionist.

“I am just absolutely honored to be the Aiken County Teacher of the Year,” stated Sherman. “I am actually a product of the school district myself having attended Hammond Hill Elementary, which is where I teach now, Paul Knox Middle School, and North Augusta High School. It’s an honor to represent the profession and I cannot wait to represent the teachers in our school district.”

Additional members of the Teacher of the Year Honor Court are Kim Mitchell, 4K teacher at Aiken Elementary; Shamari Moody, Mathematics teacher at Jackson STEM Magnet Middle School; Stephanie Prandy, Social Studies teacher at Kennedy Middle School; and Sharon McCain, first grade teacher at Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary School.

The Assistant Principal of the Year award pays tribute to administrators who are helping to shape the academic success of students and cultivate leadership throughout their school. This year’s Assistant Principal of the Year is Mr. Patrick Newsome, Warrenville Elementary School.

“I feel honored and this is just a testament to the great school I work at, Warrenville Elementary,” commented Newsome. “My Principal, Ms. Charlene Heard, is amazing and I am just over-the-moon excited to represent the assistant principals in this school district.”

Mr. Newsome is joined by fellow Assistant Principal of the Year Honor Court members Jasmine Scott of Schofield Middle School, and Jennifer Kolmar of South Aiken High School.

The Principal of the Year honor is given to a dedicated administrator who provides high-quality learning opportunities for students and demonstrates exemplary contributions to the profession. The 2022-23 Principal of the Year is Ms. Shunte Dugar, New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School.

“I am just blessed,” stated Dugar. “We’ve come full circle. In 2013, we had 167 students and were trying to problem solve and put different ideas on the table to try and increase our enrollment and through it all we’ve worked very hard. I have a wonderful staff and teaching staff and we have a wonderful school community. Our students and parents are amazing. New Ellenton has always been a gem and thrived, but people needed to see how special it was. Once we began telling our story and word got out then people began to come. Now we have 290 students and a waiting list.”

The Principal of the Year Honor Court also includes Kimbra Meek of North Augusta Middle School, and Michael Truitt of J.D. Lever Elementary School.

Each Honor Court member received a plaque and a special name badge with their new title. District winners also received a trophy and a monetary award. Congratulations to the 2022-23 Stars of Public Education winners!

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