DeStefano Chosen As District’s Outstanding First Year Teacher
Jessica DeStefano, an exceptional education teacher and coach from Darlington High School, was named Darlington County’s Outstanding First Year Teacher during Monday night’s board meeting.
“Ms. DeStefano is not only dedicated to her students, but she is also committed to making her school a better place,” said Dr. Rainey Knight, Superintendent of Education for the Darlington County School District.
“The first year of teaching is always difficult but Ms. DeStefano seems to handle it with grace, even going so far as taking on extra responsibilities such as coaching and student government. I look forward to seeing what Ms. DeStefano does next.”
DeStefano is a graduate of Bethany College in West Virginia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education with a minor in special education. She is a certified exceptional education teacher (multi-categorical). In addition to the classes she teaches, DeStefano serves as the head volleyball coach and an assistant girls basketball coach for Darlington High. She is the school’s student council sponsor and has coordinated blood drives, pep rallies, field day, and the school’s “Black History Month Program.” As the District Outstanding First Year Teacher, DeStefano will be a member of the Darlington County Leadership Council and the Darlington County Teacher Forum.
“Jessica is a teacher of outstanding character and ability,” said Dr. Greg Harrison, principal of Darlington High School. “Her performance in the classroom is consistently superior. Ms. DeStefano is absolutely dependable and keenly interested in quality performance for any task assigned. She is a great role model and a tremendous asset to our school.”
The Darlington County School District’s Outstanding First Year Teacher Award recognizes teachers who show exceptional promise in their first year of teaching. To be eligible for the award, a teacher must be working under an induction-level contract in Darlington County School District.
A panel of judges composed of Honor Roll teachers, a District Teacher of the Year, and Outstanding First Year Teachers narrowed the field of seven nominees down to three finalists based on the candidates’ essays. In addition to DeStefano, the finalists were Irby Haynes of Pate Elementary School, and Brandy Benjamin of Thornwell School for the Arts.
The Outstanding First Year Teacher nominees were:
· Whitney Rogers, Brunson-Dargan Elementary School
· Jessica DeStefano, Darlington High School
· Jamie Horton, Darlington Middle School
· Landen Marie Stauch, Hartsville Middle School
· Kenneth Butler, Lamar High School
· Irby Haynes, Pate Elementary School
· Brandy Benjamin, Thornwell School for the Arts
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