Our Teacher of the Year is Gina Nelson who works in special education. Gina has served in various capacities since the school opened in 2008 - from a PTO parent to an assistant to her current role of a resource teacher.
Gina’s nominations describe her positive, team player attitude!
Gina is always on top of the needs and accommodations for her students. She is always willing to help classroom teachers with ideas and strategies to help students. Any time I have gone to Gina with a question or concern she has jumped right in to help. Gina serves a lot of students at ACA but she still finds time to help out fellow teachers when we need assistance with the needs of students.
Gina is always cool and calm under pressure. She does her job (and beyond) with precision, expertise, and professionalism. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. She serves her students with her all and it is rare to find her without a smile on her face. Those who work closely with her know how valuable she is to the students and the staff. She is generally under-recognized (though I believe she prefers it that way), but priceless nonetheless!
Carmen Sanders is our Support Employee of the Year. This is her third school year as a Kindergarten Assistant.
Carmen’s nominations describe how she improves the school morale being an encourager and how she engages her students.
Carmen not only is a dedicated kindergarten assistant but she is also always going above and beyond the duty for her hallway. She is always planning fun social events for our hallway and for our grade level over all. Carmen is always first to jump in to help with any needs our grade level has. She also serves in helping with chorus and assists Mrs. Hawkins with after school practices. Carmen does this on her own time and clocks out before time for chorus. She also leads Gator Jam for the upper grades. Carmen takes her own time to find things for Gator Jam to play and works on plans on her own time. Carmen is dedicated to ACA and all the students, not just her kindergarten class.
Carmen is always thinking about morale of the school and how to make others shine and feel special. She’s the mastermind behind our Gator Jam which reflects our magnet focus so well and highlights those children in a very unique way. She’s an encourager on our hall and often plans events and occasions where we can come together and celebrate ! She’s positive and excited about each and every person at ACA and works tirelessly for the children and staff alike .
Carmen boosts the morale and engagement of her colleagues and students. She builds nurturing relationships with those she works with and serves. She is committed to the students she serves in the classroom, during Gator Jam, and during chorus practices, and she is a great team player. She is always willing to help out with chorus and Gator Band.
Always in a good mood, I love seeing her in hallways interacting with her students. As a first year teacher, she makes me feel welcome.. like a part of the family. She is involved in other things outside of classroom duties and excels inside of her classroom as well.
Carmen is like sunshine! She is such a positive influence, and others feel that! Carmen has such amazing ideas and gets so excited to share. She has started Gator Jam for the older kiddos, even though she works in kindergarten. Her love of music just makes the Yellow Hall a better place to work, grow, and learn. Carmen's sunny disposition is contagious! I feel that I have become a much better assistant because of her. Carmen is simply the best of the best!
We would also like to congratulate Meg Harrison, our school psychologist. She was named South Carolina School Psychologist of the year.
Nelson, Harrison, and Sanders celebrate the announcement ACA parade style!