2024-25 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year
Chelsey Troutman, third grade teacher at Brushy Creek Elementary named 2024-25 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year
This morning, Brushy Creek Elementary third grade teacher Chelsey Troutman received the district’s highest teaching honor as Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster named her the 2024-25 GCS Teacher of the Year.
Three runners-up were announced: Bryan Raeckelboom, building construction instructor at Golden Strip Career Center, was named First Runner-up; Karla Cannon, Spanish teacher at Riverside High, was named Second Runner-up; and Frances McNeely, math teacher at Wade Hampton High, was named Third Runner-up.
Additional Top 10 Finalists for 2024-25 Teacher of the Year were Lisa Brundridge, special education teacher at Northwest Middle; Brian Maddux, special education teacher at Woodmont High; Katie Murphy, art teacher at East North Street Academy; Anna Nieto, multilingual learner program teacher at Sevier Middle; Staci Purvis, art teacher at Berea Elementary; and Jessica Yarbro, special education teacher at Washington Center.
Two First-Class Teacher Award winners were named. This award, sponsored by Public Education Partners and Auro Hotels, recognizes exemplary teachers at both the elementary and secondary level who have completed their very first year of teaching and have Induction Contract Status in Greenville County Schools. The Elementary First Class Teacher Award was presented to Megan Stanton, third grade teacher at Summit Drive Elementary. The Secondary First Class Teacher Award was presented to Will Cooper, math teacher at Mauldin High.
In addition, two Emerging Teachers of the Year were named. The Emerging Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by Greenville Federal Credit Union and recognizes teachers who have completed their second or third year of teaching. Awards are presented to one elementary teacher and one secondary teacher. Eliza Morgan, first grade teacher at Lake Forest Elementary, was named Elementary Level Emerging Teacher of the Year, and Annie Miller, Spanish teacher at Greer High, was named Secondary Level Emerging Teacher of the Year.
2024-25 Teacher of the Year, Chelsey Troutman
Chelsey Troutman, the 2024-25 Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year, has a passion for education that shines through in her dedication to her students. Inspired by her own experiences and the influential figures in her life, Chelsey creates an engaging and supportive learning environment for her students at every opportunity. Today, as a third-grade teacher at Brushy Creek Elementary School, she channels this inspiration to ensure her students feel respected and cared for.
Her teaching philosophy centers on building strong relationships with her students, understanding their unique stories, and celebrating their strengths. Chelsey believes that every student can succeed and works diligently to help them connect with their abilities and support their needs. “As an elementary school teacher, it is my mission to set students up with a solid foundation through character development, community building, and cultivating a love of learning,” she shares. “These three pillars of my teaching philosophy help students to feel safe, grow as members of society, and preserve their natural curiosity.”
Chelsey’s ultimate goal as a teacher is to instill a sense of curiosity and a love of learning in her students, ensuring they become lifelong learners who are prepared for the challenges of the future. One way she strives to do this is by providing valuable learning opportunities and a window into future careers. “I incorporate the skills, knowledge and characteristics of the Graduation Plus initiative within my classroom through the connections between academic and workforce skills,” she says. “First and foremost, I place a high level of importance on the soft skills employers seek that are also important interpersonal skills for children to hone. In addition to developing perseverance and communication skills, students are given many opportunities to practice time management and work in a team effectively.”
Her dedication to education extends beyond her classroom. She has mentored first-year and student teachers, helping them build strong relationships with their students and navigate challenges as they arise. She believes in the power of collaboration and continuously learns from her peers, fostering a culture of mutual support and growth.
“Congratulations to Chelsey on this incredibly important recognition,” said Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster. “I appreciate her dedication and commitment to the students of Greenville County. She serves as a shining example of the thousands of teachers in Greenville County who come to work every day to build a better future for our community.”
Teacher of the Year Process
The process of selecting ten finalists began last fall when schools and centers selected their individual Teachers of the Year. School-level Teachers of the Year completed a comprehensive application that was reviewed and scored by an initial Screening Committee.
A separate Judging Committee, including representation from a former teacher of the year, a retired GCS administrator, higher education, and community partners, then ranked the top one-third of applicants and selected the Top 10 finalists.
How Are the Finalists Chosen?
Each Top Ten candidate for Greenville County Schools Teacher of the Year is judged on the completed application, a one-on-one interview, and a classroom observation.
During the interview, candidates were evaluated on their use of effective communication skills, organization of responses to questions, and substance and relevance of response. Top Ten Finalists had an unannounced classroom’s observation by the judging committee. Judges scored each finalist on his or her knowledge of content, teacher/student interaction, communication skills, instructional delivery, and assessment and feedback.
The members of the Selection Committee are Kristin Eplee Barthel, Eplee and Associates; Suzanne Billings, GCS Teacher of the Year 2017-18; Bernice Jackson, retired GCS administrator; Catherine James, Greenville Federal Credit Union; and Dr. Scott Turner, Anderson University.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
GCS extends a special thanks to presenting sponsor Greenville Federal Credit Union.
Special awards and prizes are provided for the top Greenville County teacher and other honorees. Sponsors include Auro Hotels, Bank of Travelers Rest, BMW Manufacturing Company, Chick-fil-A of Greer, Community Journals, Cowart Awards, District 1 PTA, Eplee + Associates, Expressions Unlimited, Greenville Drive, Greenville Journal, Herff Jones of South Carolina, Jostens, Michelin North America Inc., Papa John’s Pizza, Peace Center, Public Education Partners, Rotary Club of Greenville, SC Charities, Spinx and Table 301.
