Jennings Named FCSD3 Teacher of the Year

Jennings Named FCSD3 Teacher of the Year
Posted on 08/09/2018

A third-year English teacher, who almost called a courtroom his home as an attorney rather than a classroom as a teacher, has been named Florence County School District Three’s Teacher of the Year.

Joshua Jennings, an English I, II, III and IV, and creative writing teacher at Lake City Early College High School, was named Teacher of the Year during the district’s annual Opening Ceremony Thursday welcoming back teachers for the new school year. He will represent FCSD3 in the State Teacher of the Year competition.

Jennings was among the three finalists along with Amy Wiggins, a fifth-grade math teacher at Scranton Elementary STEAM Academy, and Teri Burgess, a second-grade teacher at Lake City Early Childhood Center School of Arts.

“I am thrilled for Mr. Jennings,” said Ned Blake, who served as principal at the school until recently.  “He always put students first and is very innovative in his teaching pedagogy.  His willingness to involve students in community activities speak volumes of who he is as a person.  Being a very gifted and self-driven educator, I am convinced Mr. Jennings will have a profound impact on student achievement and learning for years to come.”

Jennings said he always knew he wanted to be a teacher. “I enjoyed helping my peers and later my little brother and sister with their work for as long as I can remember,” he said. “However, I set off for college with every intention of becoming a lawyer because my family told me I needed to make money and have a lucrative career. Little did I know that the history degree I was pursuing would be just as useful in the classroom as in law school.”

Jennings said he always knew he wanted to be a teacher, but instead planned to become an attorney because of the higher earning potential. After graduating from college a semester early, Jennings said he got a job as a substitute teacher at a school where he already was coaching track.

“I started just to make some extra money on the side, but before long I found myself loving the grind of teaching,” he recalled. “Once I found myself in the classroom, I had very little desire to get out.”

That was when Jennings applied for an alternative teaching certification program through Teach for America. After three interviews, he was accepted into the program. “Although my commitment with TFA was only for two years, I had absolutely no desire to leave whenever my cohort had fulfilled its obligation,” he said. “I had found my passion, and leaving the classroom was never a thought that crossed my mind.”

Jennings said his philosophy of teaching is summed up in a phrase all teachers hear at some point in their careers: teaching is all about relationships.

“This phrase could possibly be the greatest understatement in the field of education,” he said.Becoming a successful teacher is a multifaceted conundrum that I doubt anyone will ever quite solve. However, the great teachers always come back to this idea of relationships. It is this relationship-first mentality that I believe has come to define my brand of teaching.”

That need for building relationships with students led Jennings to start the school’s first cross country program for both male and female students and establish the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes program. He also sponsored the Beta Club chapter and revived the school newspaper because he felt there was a need for academic achievement to be highlighted.

“I did and sponsored all of these activities for one reason: students needed to see that I cared about them before they were going to be willing to listen to me in the classroom,” he explained.

Jennings also has focused students on giving back to the community. “I have been blessed to be a part of a school where our principal has pushed students to get out and be involved in our community,” he said. “As a member of that community, I immediately immersed myself and sought out local initiatives to serve alongside my students.” He and his students have partnered with a local church for a program known as Hope for the Holidays where they assisted community members who were struggling to make ends meet look for Christmas gifts for their children. In addition, they helped establish a venue where these community members could come in and get free toys for their kids.

The students also volunteered with Home Works, which involved spending a weekend to help repair homes of those in need. “The students came out in droves to assist community members to repair not only their homes, but in many cases their lives,” Jennings said.

Jennings and his students also partnered with Soles for Souls, an organization whose mission is to create sustainable jobs and provide relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world.

“These partnerships have taught my students that giving back to their community is one of the greatest acts of love that they can ever embark upon,” he noted.

Jennings earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Education degree in instructional accommodation from Francis Marion University and a Master of Arts degree in English from Southern New Hampshire University.

He has served as a mentor teacher and as a Teach for America Ambassador. In addition, he was a 2018 finalist for Coker College’s Excellence in Teaching Scholarship.

Each school’s staff selected a teacher of the year to represent their respective schools. A panel of four judges with backgrounds in education selected the finalists based on written responses to questions that focused on teaching philosophy, influences that led to a teaching career and the importance of education on society as well as a videotaped classroom lesson.

Each school’s Teacher of the Year received a gift and finalists also received $250. School-level teachers of the year include:

  • Evelyn Amos, a 23-year veteran who teaches third-grade science and social studies at J. C. Lynch Elementary School of STEM. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Francis Marion University and has completed 18 hours of coursework above her Bachelor’s. She has chaired and served on a number of school committees and is a trained Launch Lead teacher for Project Lead the Way.
  • Melva Brandon, an English teacher for sixth- through 12th-graders at the alternative Center for Education. She has 10 years of teaching experience and has taught at ACE for the past eight years.
  • Terri Burgess, a second-grade teacher at Lake City Early Childhood Center School of Arts with 19 years of experience as an educator. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Claflin College and a Master of Early Childhood Education from Francis Marion University. She also has completed additional coursework focusing on technology in the classroom. She has served as a mentor teacher and a Teacher Cadet cooperating teacher.
  • Chasie Cattenhead, a kindergarten teacher at Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School, with two years of teaching experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition for food management from South Carolina State University and a Master’s degree in early childhood education from Grand Canyon University.
  • Taylor Fleek, a sixth-grade English/Language Arts teacher at J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet School, with two years of teaching experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Bob Jones University. She serves as the advisor for the school’s Junior Beta Club and started the NanoWrimo Young Writers Club.
  • Cliff Gardner, a middle school music teacher at Dr. Ronald E. McNair School of Digital Communication and Leadership, with 15 years of experience as an educator. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from North Greenville College and a project-based learning endorsement from Francis Marion University and a gifted and talented endorsement from Converse College. He also is an adjunct professor at Francis Marion University and has served as a presenter at the New Tech national conference in 2016 and 2017.
  • Amy Wiggins, a fifth-grade math teacher at Scranton Elementary STEAM Academy, with 28 years of experience as a teacher. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a Master of Education degree from Francis Marion University. She has written and received funding for a number of classroom grants and is a member of the South Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Association.

Image of Evelyn Amos and Superintendent Laura Hickson
Image of Melva Brandon and Superintendent Laura Hickson
Image of Terri Burgess and Superintendent Laura Hickson
Image of Chasie Cattenhead and Superintendent Laura Hickson
Image of Taylor Fleek and Superintendent Laura Hickson
Image of Joshua Jennings and Superintendent Laura Hickson
Image of Cliff Gardner and Superintendent Laura Hickson
Image of Amy Wiggins and Superintendent Laura Hickson