Johnston, SC – The Edgefield County School District (ECSD) is pleased to announce three District teachers – Tiffany Burton, Merriwether Elementary School; Diane Knight, Merriwether Middle School; and Ashley Richards, Douglas Elementary School – as ECSD Teacher of the Year finalists. 

Edgefield County Superintendent Dr. Kevin O’Gorman and ECSD leaders surprised each of the finalists with flowers in their classrooms on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. 

“We are excited to recognize these outstanding educators as our school district’s teacher of the year finalists,” stated Dr. O’Gorman. “These amazing teachers exemplify sustained excellence in the classroom, and we are so proud of them.”

Douglas Elementary School’s Ashley Richards, a kindergarten teacher with 13 years of experience in the classroom, focuses on developing relationships with each of her students.

"I believe it is important that I establish a classroom filled with meaningful relationships in order to create an atmosphere that is engaging, empowering, and enriched,” Richards wrote in her Teacher of the Year application. “In order to build your students up, you must first earn their trust and respect. I explain to my students that we will spend a lot of time together, so it is important that we engage in meaningful conversations and discuss what our expectations will be in order to create a positive, loving, and safe classroom environment."