Chester County’s Teacher of the Year sees promise in all of her students

Nequi Dunlap enjoys the pride of watching her Chester County students succeed, even years after they leave her 4-year-old kindergarten classroom.

“When I am able to see pre-kindergarten children that I have taught walk the stage and graduate from Chester Senior High,” she said, “I’m very proud, and I know they’re going to be successful.”

Dunlap, who has been teaching for 20 years, was recently named 2016 Chester County School District Teacher of the Year. It is the second time she has held the district honor, which she also was awarded in 2004.

Dunlap, 42, teaches 4-year-old kindergarten at the Chester Park Center of Literacy through Technology, or COLT. The program exposes children to literacy and technology early.

Dunlap graduated from Chester High in 1990 and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Winthrop University. She earned her second master’s degree, in educational administration, from Grand Canyon University.

“Chester County has given me so much as a student, as a teacher,” said Dunlap, who said she has seen the schools “through the eyes of a child, walking some of the same halls here today.”

One of her greatest teaching influences came from being a member of the first Teacher Cadet program at Chester High in 1990. She also had some inspirational teachers.

“Teaching just comes very natural,” Dunlap said. “I believe all children can learn. They may not be on the same timeline, but each child has promise.”

Here are Chester County’s Teachers of the Year for each school:

▪ Lewisville Elementary: Lisa Brett

▪ Lewisville Middle School: Heather Hillis

▪ Lewisville High School: Aaron Mouyeos

▪ Chester Park School of Inquiry: Ethel Moyd

▪ Chester Park School of the Arts: Vicki McCorkle

▪ Chester Middle School: Donnae Dorn-Long

▪ Chester High School: Denise Chavis

▪ Chester County Career Center: Santana Davis

▪ Great Falls Elementary: Sally Turner

▪ Great Falls Middle/High Complex: Megan Fulk

▪ The Learning Center: Whitney Ford

Brett and Turner were named Chester County Honor Roll Teachers of the Year.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Chester County’s Teacher of the Year sees promise in all of her students."