Fort Mill names its top teacher and support staffer of the year with cash, trip prizes
An elementary school literacy coach and a special services assistant received top honors in Fort Mill, earning Fort Mill School District teacher and support staff member of the year.
Winners were announced Tuesday night when the school board met, after the board recognized school level teachers and support staff members of the year. Riverview Elementary School literacy coach Mandy DeMeio won Teacher of the Year. Pleasant Knoll Elementary School special services assistant Kristin Gommer won Support Staff Employee of the Year.
DeMeio is a National Board Certified Teacher and a STAR Renaissance Distinguished Educator. DeMeio is a graduate of both Ohio University and National University.
“I am humbled to accept this award,” DeMeio said in a release from the district. “I love Fort Mill Schools and I love Riverview and our students there. I am so excited to represent our school district.”
Gommer has been with the Pleasant Knoll 10 years and was nominated for support staff of the year five times. Gommer helps with afterschool activities like Fit Lit and science nights, along with the school prayer and encouragement team. Gommer is a Grove City College and University of North Dakota graduate.
“Both Ms. DeMeio and Ms. Gommer are exceptional members of the Fort Mill School District family,” said superintendent Chuck Epps. “They are representative of all of the talented teachers and staff members we have in our schools and we are excited to have them represent us in the coming year.”
Epps and board members recently credited district teachers with a student achievement bounce back from COVID learning loss that other parts of the state haven’t seen. Recent student test scores at the elementary, middle and high school levels show Fort Mill often leads the state in student scores.
Epps doubled down on those sentiments Tuesday night in recognizing school level and district level winners. Both teachers and support staff members impact children daily.
“Particularly the past two to three years, it’s been an amazing journey and we appreciate greatly the effort of our support staff and our teachers,” Epps said.
School level winners received $350 and a plaque. Five teacher finalists for the district award received $500 and a plaque. District level winners received an additional $1,000 and a weekend trip to Springmaid Mountain. DeMeio also received a car for a year from Stateline Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Alfa Romeo.
