COLUMBIA — Richland School District Two is announcing its five finalists for 2024-2025 District Teacher of the Year. Among those five finalists are teachers from Blythewood schools – Hannah Cummings (Round Top Elementary) and Julie Russell (Blythewood High School).
Finalists received surprise visits from the superintendent, their principals and other administrators who announced they are in the top five competing for the Richland Two District Teacher of the Year. Hannah Cummings was the most recent area awardee announced by the district.
Cummings is a third-grade teacher at Round Top Elementary School. Since childhood, Cummings knew she wanted to teach. Cummings holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Clemson University and a Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. She is actively involved in her students’ lives in and out of the classroom.
“Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, I made an effort to personally connect with each student by visiting them on a Saturday, waving and offering a gesture of support,” Cummings said.
Frequently, she also supports her students at various events such as concerts, sporting competitions and celebrations.
Cummings has been employed with Richland Two for four years at Round Top. She is a former Rookie Teacher of the Year finalist. She is pursuing National Board Certification, the most respected professional certification available in education.
An advocate for teacher retention, Cummings believes prioritizing the well-being of teachers now will create a better environment for future students.
Richland Two surprised Blythewood High School teacher Julie Russell early last week.
Russell is an Orchestra Director at Blythewood High School. She opens every orchestra concert with, “I love my job, I really do!” Russell says she fell in love with music education at age 15.
“There is something rewarding about taking a piece of music, working in small sections, and hearing a noticeable difference in the outcome,” Russell said. “I learned about persistence through the daily struggle of practice, and beauty of the craft, through the musical stories told in each composition.”
Russell earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2009 from the University of South Carolina. She is the Chair of the South Carolina Music Educators Association Region Orchestra and the South Carolina Music Educators Association Membership.
If selected as District Teacher of the Year, Russell says she would use the platform to communicate a message of hope to teachers and remind them they are making a difference.
“These finalists demonstrate daily a real commitment to Richland School District Two students, its mission and core values,” Superintendent Dr. Kim Moore said. “Collaborating with teachers like these, Richland Two will undoubtedly be a national model of excellence in teaching, learning and in everything that we do.”
Cummings and Russell are joined by finalists Yoko Hughes, Bookman Road Elementary School; Dr. Nicola Smiling, Longleaf Middle School; and Rona Stuart, Spring Valley High School.
