Florence School District 3 announced its 2024-2025 employees of the year, including Teacher of the Year, during the district’s annual Opening Ceremony Tuesday, July 22, to kick off the new school year.
Ashley Bonilla, a 5K teacher at Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School, will represent FSD3 in the South Carolina Teacher of the Year competition. La’Tia Fleming, a science teacher at Lake City High School, was first runner-up and Bethany Jackson, a fourth grade teacher at Scranton Elementary STEAM Academy, was second runner-up.
Bonilla has taught at Olanta Magnet since 2023-2024. She previously taught at Scranton Elementary STEAM Academy and Lake City Early Childhood Center.
Tonyelle Thomas, director of student academic support, GT and the arts, was named District-Level Administrator of the Year. Angelia Scott, director of human resources, was first runner-up and Ned Blake, director of secondary education, was second runner-up
Jason Cook, principal of Lake City High School, was named FSD3 Principal of the Year, while T.J. DeVine, principal of J.C. Lynch Elementary, was first runner-up and Melanie Dukes McKnight, principal of Olanta Creative Arts and Science Magnet School, was second runner-up
Bridget Fleming, formerly an assistant principal at Main Street Elementary School (and the school’s current principal), was selected Assistant Principal of the Year. Ashley Dress, assistant principal at Lake City High School, was first runner-up and Carolina Doughty, assistant principal at Lake City Early Childhood Center, was second runner-up.
Nakisha McKnight, a Level III Secretary for J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet School and Lake City High School, was named Student Support Staff of the Year. Gwen Graham, formerly an academic interventionist assistant and now a certified teacher, at Lake City Early Childhood Center, was first runner-up and Danielle McGee, bookkeeper at J. Paul Creative Arts and Science Magnet School was second runner-up.
Other employees of the year were:
- Bus Driver of the Year – Abram Graham
- Clerical Staff of the Year – Nakisha McKnight (J. Paul Truluck Magnet and Lake City High School)
- Custodian/Maintenance of the Year – Brian Croker (District Maintenance Dept.)
- Food Service Staff of the Year – Tamra Singletary (Lake City High )
- Health Services Staff of the Year – Jennifer Feagin (Olanta Magnet School )
- Classified Instructional Staff of the Year – Lenora Caldwell (Lake City High)
- Student Support Staff of the Year – Seneca Barron (Lake City High)
- Rookie Support Staff of the Year – Alishia Wiles (J. C. Lynch Elementary)
- Rookie Teacher of the Year – Va'Tia Davis (Main Street Elementary)
- International Teacher of the Year – Emilio Geronimo (J. Paul Truluck Magnet)
