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- Rookie Teacher of the Year

Rookie Teacher of the Year
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The Rookie Teacher of the Year program is designed to recognize and celebrate teachers within the first three years of their careers and improve teacher retention by celebrating success early in their careers. Rookie Teacher of the Year school honorees are nominated by their school principals for their professionalism in providing quality instruction and meeting the needs of all students. Five finalists have been chosen from school nominees, and the HCS Rookie Teacher of the Year will be recognized later this year.
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HCS 2023 Rookie Teacher of the Year
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Congratulations to Alexis Del Castillo, Horry County Schools 2023 Rookie Teacher of the Year!
Alexis Del Castillo is a 6th-grade science and 7th-grade math teacher at Ocean Bay Middle School and began his teaching career at HCS in 2020. Alexis is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle Level Education in Math and Science.

Mr. Del Castillo's Acceptance Speech
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I just want to thank Horry County Schools for this recognition. It is an absolute honor to be named Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Thank you to my friends, family, and staff for all the support I've received throughout my first two years of teaching.
Of course, I have to give a big thank you shoutout to my students- both former and current. It's because of my kids that I'm able to learn and grow. They make me want to be the best version of myself.
That's what this recognition and profession is about: the kids. As educators, we strive to help our students reach the top academically; however, this is not the only role we play. We are supporters, providers of love and positivity, and sometimes we may be the only ones they have. Our role is imply to be there for the kids.
All we can do in life is try to impact each other in a positive manner. I encourage each you to reach out into the world and promote love because you never know what someone may be going through. We must be the positivity and light that this world needs. Never forget your own impact that you create every day.
Thank you again for this recognition. It truly is an honor.
Alexis Del Castillo, May 2022
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Top 5 Rookie Teacher of the Year Finalists
Charmaine Branch - Loris Middle
Kaycelyn Laymon - Myrtle Beach Middle
Alexis Del Castillo - Ocean Bay Middle
Erin Turman - St. James High
Raegan Dore - St. James Intermediate
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2022-2023 School-Level Rookie Teachers of the Year
School | Rookie Teacher of the Year Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology | Evelyn Freeze Academy for Technology & Academics | Denrey Christy Aynor Elementary | Torie Myers Aynor Middle | Emily Gore Black Water Middle | Brittany Horne Burgess Elementary | Alexis "Lexi" Ridgeway Carolina Forest Elementary | Alexandria Steinmetz Carolina Forest High | Randi Aubry Conway High | Katherine Altman Conway Middle | Alba Aponte Carrasquillo Daisy Elementary | Alexa Rogers Forestbrook Elementary | Hannah Kriger Forestbrook Middle | Miranda Pengu Green Sea Floyds Elementary | Lillian "Lilly" Johnson Green Sea Floyds Middle | Andrew Carroll Homewood Elementary | Sky McBride Kingston Elementary | Sarah Turner Lakewood Elementary | Taylor Kudrick Loris Elementary | Elizabeth Collins Loris High | Kira Hamilton Loris Middle | Charmaine Branch Midland Elementary | Margaret Lowes Myrtle Beach Elementary | Rachael Caudle Myrtle Beach High | Aaron Solari Myrtle Beach Middle | Kaycelyn Laymon Myrtle Beach Primary | Gabrielle Smychynsky North Myrtle Beach High | Luke Moore North Myrtle Beach Middle | Gabrielle Hilburn Ocean Bay Elementary | Amanda Schoen Ocean Bay Middle | Alexis Del Castillo Palmetto Bays Elementary | Dalys Rhyne Pee Dee Elementary | Grace Batten River Oaks Elementary | Rebekah "Becky" Almanza (Krivanek) Riverside Elementary | Kimberly "Kim" Price SOAR Academy | Emily Keppley Socastee Elementary | Alexis Gagnon Socastee High | Matthew Parris Socastee Middle | Amy Hill St. James Elementary | Hannah Price St. James High | Erin Turman St. James Intermediate | Raegan Dore St. James Middle | Derek Price Ten Oaks Middle | Maddison Hickey Therapeutic Learning Center | Savanna Caso Waccamaw Elementary | Andrew Lovell Waterway Elementary | Tiler Langston Whittemore Park Middle | Brianna Krushefsky
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2021-22 School-Level Teachers of the Year
Academy for Arts, Science & Tech - Evelyn Freeze Academy for Technology & Academics - Denrey Christy Adult Education - No Nominee Aynor Elementary - Torie Myers Aynor High - No Nominee Aynor Middle - Emily Gore Black Water Middle - Brittany Horne Burgess Elementary - Alexis Ridgeway Carolina Forest Elementary - Alexandria Steinmetz Carolina Forest High - Randi Aubry Conway Elementary - No Nominee Conway High - Katherine Altman Conway Middle - Alba Aponte Carrasquillo Daisy Elementary - Alexa Rogers Early College High School - No Nominee Forestbrook Elementary - Hannah Kriger Forestbrook Middle - Miranda Pengu Green Sea Floyds Elementary - Lillian "Lilli" Johnson Green Sea Floyds High - No Nominee Green Sea Floyds Middle - Andrew Carroll Homewood Elementary - Sky McBride Kingston Elementary - Sarah Turner Lakewood Elementary - Taylor Kudrick Loris Elementary - Elizabeth Collins Loris High - Kira Hamilton Loris Middle - Charmaine Branch Midland Elementary - Margaret Lowes Myrtle Beach Early Childhood - No Nominee Myrtle Beach Elementary - Rachael Caudle Myrtle Beach High - Aaron Solari Myrtle Beach Middle - Kaycelyn Laymon Myrtle Beach Primary - Gabrielle Smychynsky North Myrtle Beach High - Luke Moore North Myrtle Beach Middle - Gabrielle Hilburn Ocean Bay Elementary - Amanda Schoen Ocean Bay Middle - Alexis Del Castillo Ocean Drive Elementary - No Nominee Palmetto Bays Elementary - Dalys Rhyne Pee Dee Elementary - Grace Batten River Oaks Elementary - Rebekah Almanez (Krivanek) Riverside Elementary - Kimberly *Kim" Price Scholars Academy - No Nominee Seaside Elementary - No Nominee SOAR Academy - Emily Keppley Socastee Elementary - Alexis Gagnon Socastee High - Matthew Parris Socastee Middle - Amy Hill South Conway Elementary - No Nominee St. James Elementary - Hannah Price St. James High - Erin Turman St. James Intermediate - Raegan Dore St. James Middle - Derek Price Ten Oaks Middle - Maddison Hickey Therapeutic Learning Center - Savanna Caso Waccamaw Elementary - Andrew Lovell Waterway Elementary - Tiler Langston Whittemore Park Middle - Brianna Krushefsky