DCSD honors Teacher,
DCSD’s 2024 District Teacher of the Year, Tracee Auman, and the 2024 Support Staff of the Year, Amy Bullard, pose for a photo with Darlington County Board of Education Chair Wanda Hassler and DCSD Superintendent Dr. Tim Newman. (Pictured from left) Hassler, Bullard, Auman, and Newman. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Darlington County School District (DCSD) recently honored outstanding staff members at its Back-to-School Convocation on July 30. Among the accolades, Amy Bullard, a dedicated school nurse at Lamar-Spaulding Elementary School, was named the 2024-25 DCSD District Support Staff of the Year. Superintendent Dr. Tim Newman praised Bullard for her commitment to student and staff wellbeing, highlighting her passion and initiatives beyond her duties, such as establishing a community garden, creating a lactation area for nursing mothers, and introducing a taste-testing program for students. These contributions led to a $3,000 grant for the school through the MUSC School-Based Wellness Initiative. Bullard expressed her joy in working with students, emphasizing the fulfillment she finds in her role.
Additionally, the district celebrated all School Support Staff of the Year, with each winner becoming part of the Superintendent’s Support Staff Advisory Cabinet. The finalists for the District Support Staff of the Year were Austin Jones from St. John’s Elementary School and Sharon Wingate from Bay Road Elementary School. The honored staff members, chosen by vote at their respective schools, will provide valuable insights for the district.
In a parallel celebration, Tracee Auman, a dance instructor at Hartsville High School, was named the 2024-25 DCSD District Teacher of the Year. Dr. Newman commended Auman for her exceptional work in building a dance program from scratch and for her active involvement in the school’s Campus Beautification Team, Morale Committee, and Kindness Initiative Committee. Auman also serves on the Southeastern Baseball Classic Board of Directors and is the school’s Graduation Ceremony Coordinator. Her dedication extends beyond teaching, as she will assume the role of President-Elect for the South Carolina Dance Association. Auman finds great joy in witnessing her students’ growth in confidence and collaboration, particularly during successful performances.
The district also recognized the four Honor Roll Teachers for 2024-25: Kirby Hall from Bay Road Elementary School, Karine Rhule from Brockington Elementary Magnet School, Claude Diggs from Rosenwald Elementary School, and Shanta Mungin from Mayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology. All Teachers of the Year will receive a cash award and join the DCSD Teacher Forum and the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Cabinet, offering crucial feedback for the district’s operations.
The celebration underscored the dedication and excellence of DCSD’s staff, both in support roles and teaching, highlighting their significant contributions to creating a nurturing and effective educational environment for the students of Darlington County.
