Two teachers receive state awards for student growth
Two educators who taught at Whale Branch Middle last year were surprised at a Beaufort County Board of Education (BOE) meeting, hearing the news that they will be receiving significant state-funded awards recognizing their outstanding teaching that led to measurable student academic growth.
The awards are part of a state-funded pilot program created by the South Carolina General Assembly to support innovative and strategic educator compensation across public school districts and charter schools. The pilot, extended through the 2025-2026 school year, recognizes and rewards teachers whose work is directly connected to student achievement.
Based on the criteria of the program, Whale Branch Middle School was selected for funding. The district implemented the State Collaboration Approach, which bases awards on student growth as measured by SC READY assessments.
For the 2024-2025 school year, educators Christine Williams and Christa Huffman were selected as award recipients for their exceptional work with students.
- Christine Williams will receive $25,920.
- Christa Huffman will receive $11,480.
“We are proud of these educators and appreciative of their commitment to student growth and academic success,” Beaufort County School District (BCSD) Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release. “This pilot represents one way we continue to explore meaningful, data-informed approaches to recognizing the work of our teachers and supporting excellence in our schools.”
TCL to close for the holidays beginning Dec. 20
Beginning Saturday, Dec. 20, all Technical College of the Lowcountry campuses will be closed for the winter break. The college will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
Students or those interested in registering can call 843-525-8207 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during weekdays (except for Dec. 24 and 25 and Jan. 1) or email HUB@tcl.edu. Staff will be on hand to answer questions regarding financial aid, admissions, student records, testing and more.
The TCL College Store on the Beaufort Mather Campus will also be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Fridays while the college is closed with the following exceptions: Open 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25 and 26, open 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 31 and closed Jan 1 and 2.
Current and prospective students can visit www.tcl.edu to apply, register and pay for tuition. TCL’s deadline for tuition payment and early registration for Spring 2026 is Dec. 31 (late registration is Jan. 5 through Jan. 8).
