ROCK HILL, S.C. — Three Rock Hill teachers will finally see their classrooms after the district gave them a makeover this summer.
This is the second year of the Rock Hill school district's "Inspiring Spaces" program that selects one elementary, middle and high school teacher from the district and revamps their classrooms. The district said it received over 70 nominations from students, parents, alumni and supporters.
"This honor is for some of our most inspiring teachers," Lindsay Machak, executive director of Rock Hill Schools, said. "The goal of empowering teachers to dream up their perfect classroom."
Machak said the district asked teachers to imagine a "safe, welcoming place" for their students. The winners were Amanda Bolt, a first-grade teacher at Northside Elementary, Paul Johnson, a social studies teacher at Dutchman Creek Middle School and Allison Jordan, a math teacher at Northwestern High School.
Bolt was described as a world-changer and was nominated by a former student who described her as the "best teacher ever."
"I am also a teacher and one of my students made me a keychain that said, 'Best teacher ever,'" the former student's parent said. "My child had Ms. Bolt in a prior grade and told me, 'Your keychain is not true because Ms. Bolt is the best teacher,' even years after being in her class."
Johnson was nominated for Inspiring Spaces for supporting his students, not only in the classroom but with their extracurricular activities. He was recognized as being an impactful teacher.
"Mr. Johnson doesn't only stand out to me as an exceptional teacher this school year, but the best I have ever seen," one parent said. "I've never met a teacher my child looks up to more than this teacher."
A student nominated Allison Jordan, saying she tries her hardest to make sure all of her students succeed in a core class that many kids don't consider their favorite subject.
"Ms. Jrodan's room is lacking in comparison to the way she teaches," the student wrote. "She embodies what a good teacher is. Her room should reflect how amazing of a person and a teacher she is."
Contact Richard DeVayne at rdevayne@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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