Gaston, SC (Jimmy Poluszek) - A teacher from Sandhills Middle School in Gaston was named the 2017-2018 South Carolina General Educator of the Year by the South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children. The award was presented at their annual conference held in Myrtle Beach, SC.
School teacher Chris Register has worked with special needs children for 14 years. After graduating from Auburn University in Alabama, he taught in Georgia for 10 years and then moved to the Midlands and began teaching here in Lexington County for School District Four. Normally, he teaches chemistry, but what he was nominated for was his work teaching a class on robotics.
“I had no idea I was nominated,” Chris said in an interview. After all, it was another teacher by the name of Mary Kennedy, the Special Education teacher at Sandhill, who had nominated him for the award. He continued by saying, “It’s kinda overwhelming to know the impact I have.” He enjoys his work and finds teaching those with special needs to be especially rewarding. He went on to explain that every day presents a new challenge which keeps him on his toes.
“I’ve been blessed to work with such great teachers here and it’s made my job easier,” he remarked toward the end of the interview. For those who want to get into teaching and are in need of advice, Chris said that they should get into teaching for the right reason. He explained that you need to make sure that everything you do is for the kids, not yourself. If you have a heart for the kids, your teaching style and daily attitude at work will show it.
