Celebrating the Heart of Anderson County Schools: A Night to Honor Those Who Make a Difference
In Anderson County Schools, we believe that the most valuable part of our district isn’t found in test scores or rankings—it’s found in people. In the quiet compassion of a teacher who refuses to give up on a struggling student. In the ever-ready smile of a custodian who knows every child by name. In the food service worker who makes breakfast feel like home, the bus driver who offers a cheerful good morning, the paraeducator who lends a patient hand, and the countless others whose daily dedication turns school buildings into safe harbors for growth, learning, and belonging.
On the evening of May 15th, we will gather at Anderson County Middle School to celebrate those very individuals at our inaugural Anderson County Schools Employee of the Year Ceremony. This recognition is also a meaningful prelude to our celebration of Teacher and School Staff Appreciation Month in May—a time dedicated to honoring the impact of educators and support staff across our district. This special event, created to honor the incredible heart and hard work of our current staff members, will also shine a spotlight on our future educators and those whose legacies continue to shape our district even in retirement.
The entire ceremony will be infused with student voice and talent. From floral arrangements to musical performances, from the appetizers to the gracious student hosts and wait staff, our students will be pouring their time and passion into celebrating the very people who pour their time and passion into their students each day. Dinner at the ceremony will be provided by our own Food Service team—individuals who nourish not just bodies, but spirits, day in and day out.
During the ceremony, we will recognize one Teacher of the Year, one Classified Employee of the Year, and one Certified Employee of the Year from each of our six schools: Sparrow Early Childhood Center, Emma B. Ward Elementary, Robert B. Turner Elementary, Saffell Street Elementary, Anderson County Middle School, and Anderson County High School/APEX. These honorees represent the best of what our schools have to offer: skill, compassion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to students.
In addition to school-level honorees, we will also recognize outstanding individuals across the district with a series of special awards that speak to the unique ways our team members go above and beyond each day. These awards include the Substitute of the Year Award, Masterful Teacher Award, All In Award, Finance Award, No Kid Hungry Hero, Ripple Effect Award, Innovation in Education Award, Digital Learning Award, and the All Kids All the Time Award. Each one of these awards reflects the diverse and vital roles our staff members play in building a district where students feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Over the next several days, we will share the names of award winners across our social media platforms. We encourage you—our Bearcat Family—to join us in showing appreciation for the staff members who have touched your life or your child’s. Leave a comment. Share a story. Let them know the difference they’ve made. Often their work happens off the clock, behind the scenes, or far beyond what is required—but always in the service of our kids. This ceremony is our way of pausing to say: We see you. We appreciate you. We celebrate you.