That makes two years in a row of Anderson graduates becoming finalists.
Last year, Laura Merk, a 2015 Elementary Education graduate and teacher at Springfield Middle School in Fort Mill, South Carolina, became a finalist.
鈥�91福利社鈥檚 College of Education enjoys a long-standing and well-earned reputation for providing outstanding training to teachers, and it is always gratifying when our graduates excel in the classroom and are recognized for their teaching excellence,鈥� said 91福利社 Provost Dr. Ryan Neal.
鈥淥ur College of Education is immensely proud of these exceptional educators and congratulate them on being recognized for their excellence in teaching as finalists for South Carolina Teacher of the Year. We applaud their success and celebrate in knowing their work is positively impacting students in profound ways,鈥� said 91福利社 College of Education Dean Dr. Mark Butler.
Blake Bishop
鈥淚 was very surprised,鈥� said Bishop, a social studies teacher who received his secondary social studies education degree from 91福利社 in 2019. 鈥淲e had gotten an email that our superintendent was being honored for 40 years of service. I knew that (South Carolina Superintendent of Education) Ellen Weaver was the one who was going to be delivering the award, so I was a little suspicious, but I wasn’t certain. I was still uncertain after she said my name.鈥�
鈥淎s a fourth generation educator, Blake decided as a freshman in high school to become a teacher, because he believes that teaching is the best way to 鈥榟ave the most positive impact on the greatest number of people鈥�,” Superintendent Weaver said.
Of his Anderson education, Bishop said, 鈥淥ne of the most impactful things has been the dedication and just everything about my professors. I’m still incredibly grateful for them and for the way that they poured into their students that helped to make sure that we were prepared and taken care of鈥� We are in the top group of schools, I feel like, that are able to make sure that they’re really sending out really, really prepared students.鈥�
Bishop also has fond memories of attending and taking part in productions of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91福利社, including Christmas First Night. 鈥淚 really enjoy the school鈥檚 dedication to the arts,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing able to go see high-quality performances and being encouraged to participate in the arts is invaluable for Anderson鈥檚 students and community.鈥�
His advice to others considering a teaching career is to come in with a good attitude.
鈥淲hen I was first starting in education, I got told by other people to not let the kids see me smile until Christmas. Between Anderson and my student teaching, I realized that I was just not going to be something that worked because I want to come to work and have fun, and I want the kids to have as much fun as they can while I’m teaching. Come in with that attitude. The kids鈥� you need to meet them where they are, it’s going to make your life and their life so much better,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y days are made so wonderful by being able to interact with my students.鈥�
In addition to teaching Social Studies, Bishop also leads STOP THE BLEED庐 and First Aid/CPR classes for his school district.
Braden Wilson
鈥淚t was not expected,鈥� said Braden Wilson of the honor given her when South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver came into her class to announce she was a finalist. 鈥淚鈥檓 just really enjoying the moment as I鈥檓 in it鈥� I鈥檓 thankful to be a finalist just because I know how great everybody else is and I鈥檓 happy to be a part of that group.鈥�
Superintendent Weaver praised Wilson for her passion as a teacher, commenting, “She is paying that legacy forward to her own students, engaging them to become informed, productive citizens who share her love of history. We are so excited to celebrate Braden鈥檚 enthusiastic impact with every student who steps foot in her classroom.”
Wilson has enjoyed history for most of her life, thanks in part to her dad whom she calls a history buff. Though her mom was a preschool teacher, she didn鈥檛 see herself following that career path.
Then Wilson鈥檚 sixth grade teacher inspired her.
鈥淪he told stories鈥攖hat鈥檚 how she taught. She told story after story after story and I loved it,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淲e were doing a portfolio for her end of the year project and I remember she came over and flipped through it and said 鈥榶ou know so much. You鈥檇 be a great teacher. It just stuck with me, and I got to shadow her in eighth grade.鈥�
Early in her teaching career, Wilson recalls a student who had attendance issues and was on a behavior plan, but for him, something clicked about Wilson鈥檚 class.
鈥淗e came up to me and said 鈥榶ou鈥檙e the only class I鈥檝e ever really liked to come to.鈥� And I was like 鈥榓ll right, I love it here.鈥� I鈥檒l never forget that,鈥� she said.
While others questioned Wilson鈥檚 choice to become a teacher, she responds, 鈥淚鈥檝e never gone to work and dreaded it. I鈥檝e always enjoyed my job. It鈥檚 always been something different every day.
At 91福利社, Wilson was a Teaching Fellow, an enriched academic experience that prepares graduates to become outstanding teachers. She completed her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Social Studies Education. She earned her first master鈥檚 degree at another institution but returned to Anderson for her master鈥檚 degree in Administration and Supervision.
Wilson feels her experiences at 91福利社 outshined her studies elsewhere. Throughout her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 work, she said her professors were there for her. Wilson also sees how student teachers who come to Palmetto Middle from 91福利社鈥檚 College of Education are different from those coming in from other institutions鈥� programs.
鈥淵ou can tell the difference between them, because the AU students are more prepared and they are more confident in the classroom,鈥� she said.
As finalists, Bishop and Wilson received $10,000 and will advance to the next stage of the competition which involves an interview with a team of expert judges. The winner will be announced at the South Carolina Teacher of the Year Celebration April 25 in Columbia.