West Ashley educators rack up a stack of end-of-year accolades
by Jenny Peterson | Staff Writer
Excitement was building at Springfield Elementary, a school situated in the Canterbury Woods neighborhood.
On Friday, May 19, just before lunchtime, teachers were stealthily leading students to an outdoor area near the cafeteria, the young students excited for the big surprise they had in store for one of the school’s teachers. There were a few shushes as some students couldn’t contain their excitement.
The students stood outside the cafeteria holding handmade banners and signs getting ready for the double doors to open and their teacher to walk through a balloon arch with red, black and white balloons, the school colors.
The students and teachers waited patiently until 11:40 a.m., when second grade teacher Spencer Quinlan was casually “asked” to come to the cafeteria.
When Quinlan walked in, she did not find students calmly eating their lunches, but instead clapping and cheering on either side of a makeshift aisle along with TV news crews. Quinlan walked through the sea of students, some breaking ranks in their aisles to give the veteran teacher a hug.
When Quinlan went outside, she found more than 100 students clapping and and cheering, jumping up and down holding up signs and banners—some with her photo on it—and the school district officially announced that she had be named the Charleston County School District Teacher of the Year—the district’s highest honor for a teacher.
Quinlan was emotional, tearing up as she saw the joy in the students gathered outside clapping and cheering for her. Several confetti poppers were released, raining colorful pieces of biodegradable paper over the scene, inspiring students to get louder with their hoots and cheers.
Donald Kennedy, Superintendent of schools for the Charleston County School District, presented Quinlan with the award as the confetti settled. Quinlan’s family members were in attendance.
The Springfield Elementary School teacher has been teaching for 13 years total and 11 years at Springfield Elementary School.
While Quinlan knew she was a finalist for the Teacher of the Year award, she did not know until that moment that she had been selected from the top five finalists.
A PASSION FOR EDUCATION
According to the district staff, selecting a Charleston County School District Teacher of the Year is a multi-faceted process. Teachers are nominated by the school for the award and each teacher wrote an essay about their passion for education. A panel of peers reads each nominee’s essay and choses the top five finalists based on their essay along with classroom and school observations.
“The essay (topic) was ‘What makes you a highly-effective teacher?’” Quinlan recalled at school’s surprise celebration. “I wrote that for me, a highly-effective teacher is a teacher who instills in their students determination and the ability to recognize that they are their only officer and can truly do whatever they put their mind to. I hope they all recognize that they can do whatever they set their minds to with determination, with hard work and with strong values. That’s what makes you successful and that’s what I wish for each of them.”
She added, “My students mean as much to me as my own children. I want the same things for them that I want for my own children. They deserve nothing less. And I come here for them, every day.”
Quinlan’s mother and mother-in-law were both teachers and she was proud to continue in their footsteps.
“My mom inspired me to respect teachers and appreciate them and showed me in real life what a hardworking teacher looks like,” Quinlan said. Quinlan received her Early Childhood Education degree from the University of South Carolina. This isn’t her first CCSD honor; she received the 2014 Rookie Teacher of the Year award at Springfield Elementary school.
The perks of being a Charleston County School District Teacher of Year include a one-time monetary stipend and a platform to address issues facing teachers. Quinlan said she would work to bring awareness of teacher retention and working with parents about student attendance.
“I’ve seen a big change in that this year in my room and in our school. I think (it’s important to) remind parents that (students) can’t learn unless they’re here and reminding parents that we support them in whatever they’re going through and we’re here to help,” Quinlan said. “We’re a team and in order for children to be successful, we need to work together. That’s what my platform will be—reaching out to the community, getting parents involved and supporting them.”
Springfield Elementary School principal Megan Williams—who was selected as a Star Principal by the district this year—said she was proud of the veteran teacher and acknowledged that the entire school works together to support one another.
Quinlan credits the Springfield community, staff and students, as well as her family’s support, in receiving the district Teacher of the Year honor.
“Teaching is one of the hardest, but one of the most rewarding jobs because you can see the change that you’re making and it’s just magnificent. I’m proud of myself, proud of my students past and present. Proud of my family for supporting me. Proud to be a Christian, because I know my faith has brought me to this point,” Quinlan said. “I’m proud of my school, proud of my team. I’m overwhelmed to see how excited the students were, how proud they were of me. It is truly a wonderful feeling and I feel very validated and very motivated to move forward in this amazing journey.”
West Ashley Star Educators
The Charleston County School District recognized six Star Principals, selected based on their leadership and work as a principal to improve student outcomes and implement strategic change.
Three West Ashley principals were in that number: Ryan Cumback, principal of West Ashley High School and Megan Williams, principal of Springfield Elementary School and Maite Porter, principal of C.E. Williams Middle School North Campus.
The announcement came in early April and the Star Principals were honored among their colleagues at a special gala on May 6.
Cumback has served in Charleston County School District schools for the past 17 years. He was appointed principal of West Ashley High School in 2019. Prior to becoming West Ashley’s principal, he served as the principal of Moultrie Middle for three years and was the associate principal of curriculum and instruction at WAHS. While at West Ashley, Cumback was also the assistant principal over ninth and tenth grade students, the Science Department, Math Department, and the Fine Arts Department. Before becoming an assistant principal, Cumback served as an assistant administrator, truancy officer, credit recovery program coordinator, world history teacher, and CATS Advisory Board chair at the high school.
Under his leadership, West Ashley High School has seen an increase in scores on the end-of-course assessments across all content areas, produced the highest percentage of students graduating with industry certification, drastically reduced the number of students being retained each year, and significantly improved school safety and discipline, according to the district.
“His vision has always been to create a school that is a true community asset. His leadership team makes decisions based on this question, ‘will this work benefit the students?’ If one cannot answer these questions with confidence, then the team quickly adjusts to find a better solution,” the district states.
Williams was appointed principal of Springfield Elementary School in 2018, but began her career in the district at Charles Pinckney Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher for eight years. In 2008, she moved to Stono Park Elementary and taught fifth grade for one year and served as lead teacher for three years.
Williams transitioned to Springfield Elementary, where she was the assistant principal for five years before becoming interim principal last school year.
“At Springfield, Williams works alongside teachers to establish whatever is needed to succeed,” the district states. “She is the staff’s biggest cheerleader and works continuously to instill a collective efficacy in the building—the belief that all students can do the work and be successful.”
Porter has held several roles in education, including a special education teacher, assistant principal, principal intern, elementary principal and middle school principal.
Porter came to the district in 2019 as the principal of the former West Ashley Middle School. Previously, she served Volusia County Schools in Florida where she was the principal of Louise S. McInnis Elementary. Porter also served as a principal intern at Silver Sands Middle School for three years, assistant principal at Heritage Middle for five years, and dean of students at Pine Ridge High for two years.
“At C.E. Williams North, Porter has built teams of students who have a sense of belonging, created an environment where teachers feel empowered, and created a warm and fuzzy approach to meeting students’ needs,” the district states. “Community and business partners play a role as well by filling in where needed, completing the ‘ecosystem’ that provides for and supports students and families in a wrap-around way.”
