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- Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to our 2023 Teacher of the Year!
Michelle "Reneé" Atkinson of Aynor High School
Renee´ Atkinson is an Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) English teacher at Aynor High School and began her teaching career at HCS in 2004. Renee’ earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Clemson University, a Master of Secondary English degree from Francis Marion University, an Education Specialist degree from Liberty University, and is also a National Board Certified teacher.
Renee’ Atkinson will now move on to the next round as a nominee for the state's Teacher of the Year program, which will be announced in 2023.

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Read Mrs. Reneé Atkinson's Teacher of the Year acceptance speech:
I am shocked. Honored. Humbled to be standing here tonight. Everyone in this room, and especially in this group, deserves this honor. I know how hard each and every one of you work. And I am no more special than any one of you. We are all here because we are in the business of loving our children and wanting to see them succeed.
This year, last year, the year before that... even the year before that, really, have been difficult. In the face of missed days, media negativity, and overwhelming circumstances... what have felt like the greatest of odds, it can be easy to lose sight, to lose focus of WHY we do this. It’s easy to lose hope because, y’all. Our work is hard work when we have the best circumstances.
But. I would be willing to bet that most of us didn’t just choose to be teachers, we didn’t just choose this work. Most of us were called to it. We were called to value others above ourselves, we were called to serve others, called to love others... And that’s why we continue this work even when the work is hard, when the times are hard, when at times it seems impossible.
So what can we do to make it better? How can we find joy in difficult situations and continue to provide our students with what they need?
We have to take care of ourselves. We have to spend time with those we love doing what we love. We have to spread joy when times are good or bad. We have to let those around us see the light in us. And that means letting our lights shine, especially when it’s darkest.
In spite of seeing our profession as a calling, I think we sometimes wonder if we’re in the right place... I know I have (maybe even a lot recently), but a friend of mine gave me a sign earlier this year when I was really struggling and feeling like maybe this wasn’t where I belonged anymore (because yes, I have those feelings too). This sign is a reminder that we are more than test scores, bad days, angry parents and the like... And I have been keeping it right in front of my computer screen as a constant reminder. It says, “Just think, you’re not here by chance, but by God’s choosing to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.”
So let this be a reminder to all of us. When we start to think this is just a job, that we are just teachers... we need to remember that we are so much more. We do so much more than teach students about our content. We hold hands, give hugs, and wipe tears. We listen to countless stories, give advice, and provide encouragement. We buy coats, clothes, sometimes prom dresses. We provide candy, snacks, and even groceries. We write scholarship recommendations, help students prepare for college and life after school, and give references for potential jobs. We encourage our students to be more than they ever imagined they could be. We do all these things and more to build strong relationships with our students, and then, we teach our content.
To solidify this idea, I asked my senior students to time travel during this Teacher of the Year process, to take a trip back in time to their favorite teacher’s classroom, to spend some time in their mind’s eye and walk around in that room again. Then, I asked them to think about that teacher and what made that teacher so special, and do you know what? Not one student, not
one, mentioned the teacher’s content first, if at all. Every single student mentioned how that teacher made them feel, how that teacher believed in them, or how that teacher loved their students.
Our best work is building relationships, creating safe environments where our students can learn and grow. So, when the negative voices around us get too loud, when we begin to question ourselves and our worth, or when we start to think “we’re just teachers,” we need to remember that we were called to do this work, not just to teach our content but to encourage and to love children. Our ultimate worth as a teacher is determined by the sum of the lives we touch over a lifetime, so I will be forever thankful I am not “just a teacher,” and I hope you will too.
Thank you.
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Teacher of the Year Top 5 Finalists
Five finalists have been chosen from school-level honorees for the Horry County Schools Teacher of the Year distinction.
Top 5 finalists are:
- Michelle “Reneé” Atkinson, Aynor High;
- Yaminah Jordan, Conway High;
- Jessica Miller, Myrtle Beach Middle;
- Amy Howe, North Myrtle Beach High;
- and Cynthia Lehr, Socastee High
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Top 10 Teachers of the Year Semifinalists
Ten semifinalists have been chosen from school-level honorees for the Horry County Schools Teacher of the Year distinction.
Top 10 semifinalists are:
- Michelle “Renee” Atkinson, Aynor High;
- Delanie Lewis, Carolina Forest High;
- Yaminah Jordan, Conway High;
- Jessica Davis, Myrtle Beach Elementary;
- Nina Annunziata, Myrtle Beach High;
- Jessica Miller, Myrtle Beach Middle;
- Raedene Averitt, North Myrtle Beach Middle;
- Amy Howe, North Myrtle Beach High;
- Cynthia Lehr, Socastee High;
- and Jessica Harrelson, South Conway Elementary
Following a further review of semifinalists’ portfolios and interviews with the committee, the group of semifinalists will narrow to five finalists. In May, one of the five finalists will be named the 2023 HCS Teacher of the Year.
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School-Level Teachers of the Year
Fifty-six Horry County Schools (HCS) teachers have been recognized by their peers as the Teacher of the Year for their respective schools and are now eligible to vie for the distinction of being named the HCS Teacher of the Year.
Ten semifinalists will be chosen by the District’s Teacher of the Year Selection Committee after a review of written applications submitted by school winners. Following a further review of semifinalists’ portfolios and interviews with the committee, the group of semifinalists will narrow to five finalists. One of those five will be named the 2022 HCS Teacher for the Year.
Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology (AAST)
Tiffany Sellers
Academy for Technology and Academics (ATA)
Gary Tripp
Adult Education
Christine Lane
Aynor Elementary
Maegan Tyler
Aynor High
Michelle "Renee" Atkinson
Aynor Middle
Malachi Cleary
Black Water Middle
Christopher Cagna
Burgess Elementary
Diane Dame
Carolina Forest Elementary
Kelly Calcagni
Carolina Forest High
Delanie Lewis
Conway Elementary
Rachel Cain
Conway High
Yaminah Jordan
Conway Middle
Janelle Gauck
Daisy Elementary
Linda Cole
Early College High School
Karen Thompson
Forestbrook Elementary
Sara Ayala
Forestbrook Middle
Tracy Terrell
Green Sea Floyds Elementary
Casey Elliott
Green Sea Floyds High
James Mauldin
Green Sea Floyds Middle
Courtney Willoughby
Homewood Elementary
Casey Huggins
Kingston Elementary
Rebecca Lysowski
Lakewood Elementary
Erika Collins
Loris Elementary
Hannah Beatty
Loris High
David Wilson
Loris Middle
Jack Hord
Midland Elementary
April Singleton
Myrtle Beach Early Childhood
Kristen Colyer
Myrtle Beach Elementary
Jessica Davis
Myrtle Beach High
Nina Annunziata
Myrtle Beach Middle
Jessica "Jess" Miller
Myrtle Beach Primary
Tori DeVita
North Myrtle Beach High
Amy Howe
North Myrtle Beach Middle
Raedene Averitt
Ocean Bay Elementary
Aimee Singleton
Ocean Bay Middle
Megan Morris
Ocean Drive Elementary
Caroline Rogers
Palmetto Bays Elementary
Kassandra Marks
Pee Dee Elementary
Devin Cottillion
River Oaks Elementary
Eric Moore
Riverside Elementary
Megan Doiley
Seaside Elementary
Michelle Blackburn
SOAR Academy
Adam Jernigan
Socastee Elementary
Nancy Ihnat
Socastee High
Cynthia Lehr
Socastee Middle
Marianne Bourque
South Conway Elementary
Jessica Harrelson
St. James Elementary
Ellis Spearman
St. James High
Amy Marsh
St. James Intermediate
Thomas McMahon
St. James Middle
Nicholas Stillmak
Ten Oaks Middle
Linh Nguyen
Therapeutic Learning Center
Andrew Appel
Waccamaw Elementary
Jessica MacRae
Waterway Elementary
Christy Nichols
Whittemore Park Middle
Michelle Worley