My name is Missie Starkey and this will be my 18th year teaching in Lexington/Richland School District Five.  I have taught age groups from pre- kindergarten through 3rd grade. I love teaching, learning and growing alongside our young students!

 I was born in Valdosta, Georgia and moved to Columbia when I was 10 years old.  I grew up in Irmo and attended the wonderful District Five schools.  I graduated from The University of South Carolina in 1988 with a B.A. in English, worked a few years downtown at the State House, and then went back to USC and completed my M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education in 1994.  I received my National Board Certification in Literacy: Reading-Language Arts.  I am a firm believer in life-long learning!  

 I married my husband, Darryl, in 1991, and we have lived in the Chapin area for the past 30 years and have loved raising our family here.  I taught second grade in Lexington prior to having our first child, and then stayed home for several years with our three children, Susannah, Jack, and Garrett.  I taught 4 year old kindergarten at my church for a few years and I went back to full-time teaching when Garrett started kindergarten.

I enjoy reading, cooking, taking long walks, working in the yard, and spending time with my family and friends.  As a family, we enjoy going to the beach and the North Georgia mountains.  We have 3 cats (Batman, Cedric and Katniss).  My daughter got married in December, so now I have a bonus son! Life is busy, but good and we consider ourselves extremely blessed.  

 I am so proud to be a part of the Chapin Elementary School Family!  I am excited about spending this school year with your child.  We are going to have a great year!