PICKENS COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County has announced the new Teacher and Support Employee of the Year for the 2017-2018 school year.

Debra Harris, a teacher at West End Elementary School, is the new Teacher of the Year, and Barrett Rampey, a technology assistant at Liberty Elementary School, is the new Support Employee of the Year.

Harris is the lead STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) teacher at West End Elementary School, and she has been instrumental helping other teachers implement the Project Lead the Way STEM curriculum at West End and other schools in Pickens County.

In a recommendation letter for the award, one of Harris’ colleagues wrote: “Debra pours into each of us with laughter, words of encouragement, and sometimes even classroom support to ensure that we are teaching at our best capacity and our students are gaining access to passionate, creative educators. I can’t imagine someone I’d want to teach next to any more than Debra.”

Last year, Harris was one of only 40 teachers worldwide to earn the prestigious Teacher Excellence Award from the International Technology and Engineering Educator Association.

Rampey began work at Liberty Elementary after a seven-year career in law enforcement and has also served as the president of the school’s PTO.

In a recommendation letter for the award, one of Rampey’s colleagues wrote: “The most important quality I think Mrs. Rampey shows is the ability to have a meaningful relationship with all the students throughout the school day. Whether it is in the computer lab, at lunch, in ISS, at car duty, in the library, on field trips, at afterschool events, or out in the community, she lets them know that she knows their name, cares about them, and wants them to be the best they can be.”

Harris and Rampey, as well as each school’s teacher and support employee of the year, were recognized at the SDPC Back-to-School Celebration at Easley High School.

The SDPC Support Employee of the Year award comes with a $250 bonus, and the SDPC Teacher of the Year Award comes with a $500 bonus. The SDPC teacher of the year is also eligible to apply for South Carolina Teacher of the Year.

Barrett Rampey, a technology assistant at Liberty Elementary School, is the new Support Employee of the Year. At left is Danny Merck, superintendent of the School District of Pickens County.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_sdpcemployeesofyearRampey.jpgBarrett Rampey, a technology assistant at Liberty Elementary School, is the new Support Employee of the Year. At left is Danny Merck, superintendent of the School District of Pickens County. Courtesy photos

Debra Harris, a teacher at West End Elementary School, is the new Teacher of the Year, for the School District of Pickens County. At left is Danny Merck, SDPC superintendent.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_sdpcemployeesofyearHarris.jpgDebra Harris, a teacher at West End Elementary School, is the new Teacher of the Year, for the School District of Pickens County. At left is Danny Merck, SDPC superintendent. Courtesy photos

Staff Report