Mrs. Blake Sorrel

In third grade, Blake Sorrel was struggling with math.  Blake’s creative outlet was teaching her younger siblings and dolls while playing school.  Blake’s father knew her strengths and taught her a lesson in math application by designing a desk for her dolls.  They used math equations to ratio the size of the doll to the desk.  Once completed, the desk fit the dolls in the same manner her school desk would fit a third grader.  She now understood the reason for math. This experience shifted Blake’s approach and attitude of learning math.  Mrs. Strange, Blake’s third grade teacher, shared teaching materials that were no longer needed so that Blake could make learning authentic in her playroom classroom. 

One of Blake’s greatest contributions to education is her passion to be a life-long learner.  Blake allows herself to be put into vulnerable situations when collaborating with Irmo Elementary’s USC PDS Liaison and colleagues.  Because of the real life lessons demonstrated by Blake’s father, Blake takes a creative approach to design lessons that reach even the most reluctant learner.  Blake teaches children, not content, which is why she develops and maintains strong relationships with her learners.  Through the relationships built, Blake designs a research relevant curriculum that provides an outlet for all students to be successful.  A former student recently shared, “I just want to thank you for challenging me in the 4th grade.  Because you pushed me and saw how great I could be, I now know what I can accomplish.”

Now entering her 9th year of teaching, Blake is excited to teach third grade.  Her past experiences are in 5th, 4th, and 3rd grades.  While the beginning of her career, Blake taught at H.E. Corley Elementary, she has been at Irmo Elementary for three years.  Irmo Elementary has a special place in Blake's heart, as she attended IES as an elementary student.

In 2015, Blake and her husband, Mac married.  They have two rescued fur babies: Jax and Woodrow.  They enjoy spending time outside and with family.