From staff reports
Some Beaufort County School District (BCSD) teachers and staff were surprised and treated with flowers, balloons, and other goodies Friay, May 10, as Board of Education members and district administrators made surprise visits to their classrooms and work areas to announce the 2025-26 Teachers of the Year and Support Staff of the Year.
“The teachers we’re honoring today have been chosen by their peers, which makes their recognitions very special,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release. “Winning awards like Teacher of the Year or Support Staff of the Year is a testament to their incredible impact and unwavering commitment to education, and future generations. Today, we thank them for all they do.”
Teachers of the Year are selected by their peers according to criteria established by the schools, the South Carolina Department of Education and the district’s Teacher Forum. Teachers honored will be eligible for District Teacher of the Year honors next fall.
Support staff honorees are selected by school staff and can include social workers, school nurses, bookkeepers, office managers, teacher assistants, school secretaries and technology and data specialists. Staff honored will be eligible for District Support Staff Person of the Year.
The 2025-2026 Beaufort County Teachers of the Year and Support Staff of the Year:
| School | Teacher of the Year | Support Staff of the Year |
| Battery Creek High | Juli Amsden | Heather Bailey |
| Beaufort Elementary | Tamyra Smith | Iris Cruz |
| Beaufort High | Martine Marshall | Althea Gamble |
| Beaufort Middle | Christi Barr | Lameka Capers |
| Beaufort-Jasper ACE | Jeff Bates | Jill Pongallo |
| Bluffton Elementary, ECC | Jill Pink | Deborah Albert |
| Bluffton High | Beth Herring | Rosario Rivera |
| Bluffton Middle | Samantha Gera | Kristyn Holloman |
| Broad River Elementary | Lakisha Williams | Amy Butler |
| Coosa Elementary | Amy Turner | Marquilla Cohen |
| H. E. McCracken Middle | Allison Gallagher | Emanuel Wheeler |
| Hilton Head ECC | Alison Lopes | Iesha Austin |
| Hilton Head Elementary (IB) | Jason Ziegler | Miranda Patterson |
| Hilton Head Island Creative Arts, Daufuskie Island | Cynthia Strandt | Nitze-ha Garcia |
| Hilton Head Island High | Hannah Harrington | Katie Jo Bolchoz |
| Hilton Head Island Middle | Andrea Norman | Jose Trujillo |
| Joseph Shanklin Elementary | Kayli Flanagan | Regina Holmes |
| Lady’s Island Elementary | Cicely Scott | Yolanda Hazel |
| Lady’s Island Middle | Corey Hollis | Mariah Kinnie |
| May River High School | Kelly Jardin | Julie Houchin |
| M. C. Riley Elementary/ECC | Liz Dowe | Sabrina Copeland |
| Mossy Oaks Elementary | Misty Gerard | Deanna Snipes |
| Okatie Elementary | Amanda Altman | Kari Dollar |
| Port Royal Elementary | Jordan Franks | Yvonne Simmons |
| Pritchardville Elementary | Madeline Lumley | Richard Camperson |
| Red Cedar Elementary | Audrey Kaney | Katie Chiafolo |
| River Ridge Academy | Marlayna Tracy | Tailar Anderson |
| Robert Smalls Leadership Academy | Rebecca Gerrard | John Little |
| St. Helena Elementary, ELC | Phelecia Simmons | Gwynn Campbell |
| Whale Branch E.C. High | Khara Bowlin | Kelvin Simmons |
| Whale Branch El., Davis ECC | Sabrina Johnson-Green | Sharia Wynn |
| Whale Branch Middle | James Floyd | Jessica Melbourne |
| Transportation District Office Office of Early Childhood Education | Kimiko Miller Tina Purvis Judi Babalis |
