“Educating the Next Generation”

May 19, 2009: Today, we had the pleasure of meeting five exceptional women who are “top of their class”! These ladies are responsible for our future, for educating the leaders of tomorrow and according to Ellen Winkles, Charleston County’s Teacher of the Year “we are in good hands”! The five finalists in Charleston County are: Anna Bronk, Sadie Fox, Andrea Gramling, Katherine Houser and this year’s winner, Ellen Winkles. Congratulations to each of these talented and gifted individuals!

The Charleston County School District Teacher of the Year for 2009 is Mrs. Ellyn Winkles, a drama teacher at West Ashley High School. Ellyn comes from a long line a life changing teachers and “sees it as her role as the teacher to help the children who enter her classroom find their own talents and abilities so that they, too, may be happy, healthy, contributing members of society.” Mrs. Winkles began her teaching career in English and now teaches Drama and gospel company. “She is flexible in her instruction and offers a variety of choice for her students. Ellyn believes the biggest challenge facing public education today is that we must prepare and equip our students for changing times and a global economy. She stresses the importance of critical thinking and problem solving and believes that the most important relationship is that between the student and the teacher.” Congratulation Ellyn on a job well done!

Anna Bronk is the CCSD runner up teacher of the year. She is and English Language Arts Teacher at Charleston School for the arts. Ms. Bronk graduated from University of West Florida and went on to earn her masters degree at The Citadel. Anna spent her first career in journalism and decided to follow her parents into teaching. Currently, Anna teaches English and is the year book sponsor for School of the Arts. In addition to educating in the classroom, Anna is an aquatics instructor for children.

Sadie Fox is an Honor Roll teacher in West Ashley. Sadie earned her graduate and under-graduate degrees from the College of Charleston and today she teaches science at CE Williams Middle School. Sadie also serves her students “as a club sponsor” for the Robotics Club, the Surf n Turf club, and the science decathalon club; and chairs the science department at CE Williams. Sadie “challenges her colleagues to equip our students with the tools necessary to make the best decisions.”

Andrea Gramling our second Honor Roll teacher is a science instructor at Garrett Academy of Technology. Ms. Gramling’s commitment to her students was obvious in her absence as she felt it necessary to remain at school preparing her pupils for their final exam. Andrea complete her undergraduate work at Clemson and received her masters from The University of North Carolina. “Andrea challenges educators to embrace change, and implement new ideas”.

Katherine Houser our third Honor Roll Teacher is a third grade teacher at Memminger Elementary School. Ms. Houser “earned both her graduate and undergraduate degrees from the College of Charleston and currently holds National Board Certification”. Katherine’s original interest morphed into a career in teaching as she “realized her passion in meeting the needs of her students from disadvantaged neighborhoods and low socio-economic living conditions. Ms. Houser “encourages master teachers to take responsibility for sharing experiences and supporting new teachers in the field”.

Reported by Elizabeth Wooten Burwell, Keyway Committee