Alex Wharton, a special education resource teacher at Berkeley High School, has been named a South Carolina Teacher of the Year finalist, according to the S.C. Department of Education.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Education.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Alex Wharton, a special education resource teacher at Berkeley High School, has been named a finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year, according to the S.C. Department of Education.
Wharton has more than 30 years of experience in public education and currently teaches ninth- through 12th-grade students at Berkeley High School, according to the department. She holds a degree in special education from the University of the West Indies, a degree in exceptional student education from Florida Memorial University, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Grand Canyon University, the department said.
According to the department, Wharton implements individualized education programs, assesses student progress, and collaborates with families, case managers and teachers to support students’ academic success.
“Alex Wharton truly embodies what it means when we say that every child can succeed,” State Superintendent Ellen Weaver said, according to the department. “Her steadfast commitment over the years has opened doors of opportunity for students with special needs, setting a powerful standard for inclusive education.”
Berkeley County School District Superintendent Anthony Dixon also praised Wharton, who is Berkeley County’s Teacher of the Year, according to the department. “She is impactful, innovative, and deeply committed to her students and colleagues, as she supports general education teachers by sharing specialized strategies that strengthen instruction for all learners,” Dixon said, according to the department.
As a finalist, Wharton will receive $10,000 and advance to an interview with a panel of judges, according to the department. The statewide winner will receive $25,000 and the use of a BMW while serving a one-year term as a spokesperson for the state’s more than 65,000 educators, the department said.
The State Teacher of the Year will be announced April 23 in Columbia, according to the department.
