2016-17 OCSD5 District Teacher of the Year
Receives New 2016 Toyota

    Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five (OCSD5) teachers, staff and administrators gathered at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School on the morning of August 12, 2016 to kick-off the start of a new school year. Following an Opening Session themed around Olympic Games with Superintendent Dr. Jesse Washington leading the way, the district introduced its Teachers of the Year from each of the district’s schools along with the 2016-17 District Teacher of the Year.
    The Teachers of the Year from each school are as follows: Cathy Lawrence, Bethune-Bowman Elementary School; Sherri Dennis, Dover Elementary School; Veronica Hodges, Brookdale Elementary School; Keisha McCullough, Marshall Elementary School; Jessica McCormick, Mellichamp Elementary School; Arlequanda Gates, Rivelon Elementary School; Akua Polidore, Sheridan Elementary School; Andrea Shuler, Whittaker Elementary School; Malissa Wright, Clark Middle School; Elizabeth Humphrey, Howard Middle School; Katherine Mack, Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School; Jeffrey Hall, North Middle/High School; Paulette Richardson, Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School; Artis Coulter, The Technology Center; and Erick Kouamegni, High School for Health Professions.
    The 2016-17 OCSD5 District Teacher of the Year is Jeffrey Hall, 6th-7th grade Social Studies teacher at North Middle/High School. Hall is a veteran teacher with an inspiring personal story and an outstanding record of success in the classroom. Over the summer, Hall was appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at Dover Elementary School. Hall has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. He is married to Dr. Tiffany Hall, also an Assistant Principal in OCSD5. They have two sons, Parker and Payton.
    Hall was joined by Jessica McCormick, Keisha McCullough, Andrea Shuler, and Malissa Wright as Finalists for the OCSD5 District Teacher of the Year award. Profiles of all of the Finalists will appear throughout the year in future editions of our monthly newsletter, the E-Blast in Five.
    OCSD5 would like to extend its gratitude to Jimmy Jones Toyota of Orangeburg for sponsoring the use of a new Toyota to our District Teacher of the Year. Since their arrival in the Orangeburg community, Jimmy Jones Toyota has been an outstanding supporter of public education and numerous community projects and events. Please let them know how much we appreciate their support.
    “We are very proud of the accomplishments of each of our Teachers of the Year and the commitment they bring to their profession,” said Superintendent Dr. Jesse Washington. He added, “This group of teachers leads by example and is dedicated to helping our children grow and reach their full potential.”
    The Teachers of the Year at each school were selected by their peers at the end of the previous school year. From there, an independent committee of community leaders met over the summer to review applications and conduct interviews to make the final selection to determine the 2016-17 OCSD5 District Teacher of the Year.