School District Five announces 2026-2027 Teachers and Support Employees of the Year

For Immediate Release – February 5, 2026

School District Five announces 2026-2027 Teachers and Support Employees of the Year

IRMO – Schools from Lexington-Richland School District Five recently announced their 2026-27 Teachers of the Year & Support Employees of the Year.

Teacher of the Year winners from each school include: Dr. Hadiyah Leonard (Academy For Success), Stacy Topps (Ballentine Elementary), Patrick Smallwood (Center for Advanced Technical Studies), Rachael Stenger (Chapin Elementary), Yarah Rose (Chapin High), Christina Brown (Chapin Intermediate), Dr. Kristi Grooms (Chapin Middle), Ashleigh Hollis (CrossRoads Intermediate), Marrianne Cooper (Dutch Fork Elementary), Jay Gilliam (Dutch Fork High), Grace McKlveen (Dutch Fork Middle), Dani Tarvin (FIVE), Kathryn Meetze (H. E. Corley Elementary), Jaime Funk (Harbison West Elementary), Erin Donoghue (Irmo Elementary), David Pappas (Irmo High), Shayauna Brewer (Irmo Middle), Mary Catherine Greenway (Lake Murray Elementary), Emily Holz (Leaphart Elementary), Christa Edwards (Nursery Road Elementary), Tiffani Smiley (Oak Pointe Elementary), Hollie Heming (Piney Woods Elementary), Lauri Williams (River Springs Elementary), Robyn Constable (Seven Oaks Elementary), and Anna Maria Hinson (Spring Hill High).

Support Employee of the Year winners from each school include: Elizabeth Dewalt (Academy For Success), Dina LaBarca (Ballentine Elementary), Bruce Hammond (Center for Advanced Technical Studies), Alyssa Hood (Chapin Elementary), Jessie Owen (Chapin High), Sam Patterson (Chapin Intermediate), Ann Ihrie (Chapin Middle), Jeanette Farr (CrossRoads Intermediate), Kay Dickerson (District Office), Porsche Craft (Dutch Fork Elementary), Beth Wilson (Dutch Fork High), Cindy Chapman (Dutch Fork Middle), Driani Harris (FIVE), Jess Catalano (H. E. Corley Elementary), Kylee Denter (Harbison West Elementary), Sheri Richards (Irmo Elementary), Cassandra Borner (Irmo High),  Judith Connor (Irmo Middle), Jordan Nelson (Lake Murray Elementary), Kim McCarthy (Leaphart Elementary), Allyson Utter (Nursery Road Elementary), Sydney Conley (Oak Pointe Elementary), Gail Pennington (Piney Woods Elementary), Michelle Long (River Springs Elementary), Chudney Ellis (Seven Oaks Elementary), Chrissy Gregg (Spring Hill High), Ta’Nico Creed (Transportation).

School District Five Superintendent Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr. said, “School District Five is proud to recognize these outstanding educators and support employees. This is a dedicated group who represents the very best of our district and this profession as they serve students, families and the community. We congratulate and thank them for their outstanding service."

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