Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to our Teachers of the Year!
Congratulations to our newly selected school-level Teachers of the Year! Each of these outstanding educators is being recognized by their peers for their dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to students. From this distinguished group, the journey toward naming the overall HCS Teacher of the Year will now proceed in two stages: first we will narrow the field to ten semifinalists, then select five finalists, before ultimately honoring the Teacher of the Year who will be named this spring.
The 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year School Nominees
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• Academy for the Arts, Science, |
| • Academy for Technology & Academics - Heidi Smith-Hardee |
| • Aynor Elementary - Amanda Staples |
| • Aynor High - Elizabeth Thomas |
| • Aynor Middle - Adrianne Bostic |
| • Black Water Middle - Maria Beale |
| • Burgess Elementary - Catherine Parrish |
| • Carolina Forest Elementary - Genevieve Hammer |
| • Carolina Forest High - Tim Karst |
| • Conway Elementary - Carrie Smith |
| • Conway High - Thyssene Frederick |
| • Conway Middle - Regina Wydock |
| • Daisy Elementary - Taylor Sinkler |
| • Forestbrook Elementary - Erin Kerr |
| • Forestbrook Middle - Tara McCoy |
| • Green Sea Floyds Elementary - Renee Pagoota-Wight |
| • Green Sea Floyds High - Jodi Watson |
| • Green Sea Floyds Middle - Elizabeth Lamfers |
| • HCS Early College High School - Dr. Kimberly Carroll |
| • Homewood Elementary - Jeana Altman |
| • Horry County Adult Education - Claire Kalinsky |
| • Kingston Elementary - Amanda Rausch |
| • Lakewood Elementary - Lillian Little |
| • Loris Elementary - Kristin Todd |
| • Loris High - Christina Kelliher |
| • Loris Middle - Martina McKoy |
| • Midland Elementary - Jessica Ward |
| • Myrtle Beach Early Childhood School - Karen Trotta |
| • Myrtle Beach Elementary - Jennifer Lee |
| • Myrtle Beach High - Jennifer Moreno |
| • Myrtle Beach Middle - Corey Houser |
| • Myrtle Beach Primary - Scarlet Smith |
| • North Myrtle Beach High - Ryan Dinant |
| • North Myrtle Beach Middle - Crystal Laughlin |
| • Ocean Bay Elementary - Megan Gillich |
| • Ocean Bay Middle - Brittany Horne |
| • Ocean Drive Elementary - Cara Hoffnagle |
| • Palmetto Bays Elementary - Leah German |
| • Pee Dee Elementary - James "Bo" Gorcesky |
| • Pine Island Elementary - Alexandra Johnson |
| • River Oaks Elementary - Barbie Earnest |
| • Riverside Elementary - Jeanette Wood |
| • Seaside Elementary - Jessica Roberts |
| • SOAR Academy - Pamela Unruh |
| • Socastee Elementary - Stacey Puka |
| • Socastee High - Deanna Futrell |
| • Socastee Middle - Seth Gordon |
| • South Conway Elementary - Jessica Avino |
| • St. James Elementary - Alyana Wongsang |
| • St. James High - Sona Sargsyan |
| • St. James Intermediate - Crystal Reissman |
| • St. James Middle - Angela Tester |
| • Ten Oaks Elementary - Courtney Ciel |
| • Ten Oaks Middle - Ashley Klopfer |
| • Therapeutic Learning Center - Michele Yock |
| • Waccamaw Elementary - Kennedy Galatio |
| • Waterway Elementary - Jillian Carroll |
| • Whittemore Park Middle - Wendy McDonald |
- 2026 Teacher of the Year
- 2026 Teacher of the Year Finalists
- 2026 Teacher of the Year Semifinalists
- 2024-2025 School-Level Teachers of the Year
- 2025 Teacher of the Year, Joey Hernandez
- 2025 Top 5 Teacher of the Finalists
- 2025 Top Ten Teacher of the Year Semifinalists
- 2023-2024 School-Level Teachers of the Year
2026 Teacher of the Year
2026 Teacher of the Year Finalists
2026 Teacher of the Year Semifinalists
2024-2025 School-Level Teachers of the Year
2025 Teacher of the Year, Joey Hernandez
About Horry County Schools
Horry County Schools is inspiring possibilities for student success through a broad range of unique teaching and learning opportunities.
Horry (pronounced O-Ree) County Schools is made up of 56 schools within nine attendance areas: Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Green Sea Floyds, Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, and St. James. Horry County Schools has more than 48,000 students and is South Carolina’s third-largest school district.