The "Unsung Educator of the Week" is a weekly honor given to a CCSD educator. The winner is nominated by a peer because of their determination to go above and beyond for our students. The winner for the week is published each Friday in the CCSD All Staff newsletter.

CCSD employees may submit nominees via this link or by emailing a name, description, and photo to stephen_wyatt@charleston.k12.sc.us

Lauren King, Special Education
R.B. Stall High School

"Lauren is a great support to the students and department. She has found ways to support her team in staying organized with paperwork and ensuring services for all students. She thinks outside the box to provide services for "special" situations.

 

Lauren is always happy, has a positive attitude, and is always willing to help." --nominated by a colleague

Riley Plenge, School Social Worker
Lucy Beckham High School

"Riley Plenge has been an incredible resource for students this year! She's a huge part of our anti-vaping task force and sets students up with needed support as well as holds groups on campus for them. Riley has been invaluable in connecting students and families with community agencies and mental health resources.

 

Ella Meredith, Kindergarten Teacher
Hunley Park Elementary School

"Ms. Meredith is one of those Kindergarten teachers who her students will remember forever. She exhibits all three of CCSD's pillars daily. She provides rigorous grade-level instruction by utilizing the curriculum and differentiating it for each student.

She provides academic instruction for students of varying levels and meets each student where they are at presently while pushing them forward to meet new goals.

She demonstrates being a high-quality teacher and leader by ensuring her students have a caring adult in her.

She attends every school event and makes her students feel loved and heard. She ensure wrap-around services by collaborating with her grade level to provide opportunities for all their students to experience new things in their communities."

 

Lantie Slenzak, Front Office Secretary
Belle Hall Elementary School

 

"Lantie is the heart of our school office. She wears so many hats and helps all students, teachers, staff, parents, and visitors. Her positive attitude and calm demeanor is so appreciated. She is a problem solver and can handle any situation that is thrown her way. Students come to visit her in the office and parents feel comfortable reaching out with questions.

She builds positive relationships with everyone that she works with and students love her.

 

She is invaluable and a beloved member of the Belle Hall family. "--nominated by a colleague

 

Claudia Vara
CCSD Multilingual Outreach

"Claudia is our office tech and works behind the scenes to ensure all accounts and money are spent correctly, she coordinates our meeting spaces, orders bilingual dictionaries and materials for teachers, translates documents, assists parents with registrations, supports data clerks with ML records review, creates digital resources for the department, proofreads communication and reports and plans all of our in house meetings and professional development sessions.

Stacey Lewis -- 4th grade teacher
Charles Pinckney Elementary 

"I do not think people realize how much Stacey does for so many others. She spends so much of her own time making sure everyone else is okay. Stacey, at the beginning of every year, meets with teachers to help them set up their gradebooks and Canvas. She has created lessons for the new science standards for the district and is meeting with her team to share lessons and ideas as well as to help them plan. Stacey has been mentoring a new teacher on our team. She is the leader of the Wellness Committee and helps with the House Committee. She leads a prayer group on Mondays after school. All the while, planning the most engaging math and science lessons for her students. She prepares study guides, hand movements, songs, and dances to help her students learn the content. She shares EVERYTHING with EVERYONE!" --colleague

"Stacey works tirelessly to help students not only with academics but also with social & emotional support. She has a bottomless heart that cares for ALL of her students! Stacey rocks! Stacey presents her lessons in a hands-on way that engages her students. She also works hard to create a happy atmosphere in her room and helps students make friends. She teaches the whole student not just academics." --colleague

Mimi Tierney
West Ashley High School- Art Teacher

"Ms. Tierney has gone above and beyond to grow the art program at West Ashley High School over the past few years she has been with us. In addition to teaching all of her students art and creativity, she also runs the Art Club after school where students help make banners for spirit weeks pep rallies, and more.

She is always bringing positive energy to the hallways and her students absolutely adore her. She often does not get the recognition she deserves for everything she does. We are so lucky to have Ms. Tierney!" --nominated by a colleague

Lindsey Pogar
Exceptional Children

Lindsey steps in confidently with her expertise and compassion in her role with students with special needs. Each day, she works to make sure that her students have the materials and support that they need to be successful in their educational environment. With patience and planning, Lindsey helps students with significant social-emotional needs to take small steps toward their goals.

Lindsey works in some challenging situations but never lets those challenges stop her...or even slow her down!

She truly works "magic" with her students and demonstrates genuine care and concern for each one. The love and respect that her students show for her each day is evidence that relationships and planning enable success even with challenging students and situations.

Whitney Wilson Spain, Teacher Recruitment

Human Resources

 

"Whitney works tirelessly to assist in finding, hiring, and supporting new staff for our schools. She is always willing to help in any situation and truly want to set staff up for success to support our students. She is extremely knowledgeable and is a creative problem solver. I know that whenever I come to her with an issue or concern we will find a solution. She is an absolute pleasure to work with and I am grateful for her." -- nominated by a colleague

 

 

Britney Smalls, School Social Worker
North Charleston High School (NCHS)

"Britney is a selfless social worker who embodies the spirit of a servant leader. She is committed to the overall well-being of the students and families she serves at North Charleston High School.

 

Whether she is providing one on one counseling, deescalating a student, making home visits to ensure the wellbeing of students and families, assisting with student field trips, attending after-school extracurricular events to build relationships with students, or co-sponsoring the newly established female flag football team; she does it with ease, passion, and humility.

In addition to her direct service to North Charleston High School, she is also responsible for the onboarding of social work Interns throughout the school year.

 

Britney was also tasked with ensuring her social work colleagues had access to board-approved continuing education hours, a necessity for maintaining social work licensure.