HEAD OF THE CLASS

The following article by Diane Knich was published 04/29/09 in The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC.

Shawn Wimmer, a third-grade teacher at Boulder Bluff Elementary School, has been named the Berkeley County School District's 2009 Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Anthony Parker announced this year's top teacher Tuesday at a breakfast meeting at Trident Technical College. The gathering was held to honor the top teachers at each of the district's 37 schools.  Wimmer said her greatest wish for her students is that they enjoy learning and look forward to attending school.  She said it's important for teachers to "do whatever it takes for that kid to be successful." And it's their responsibility to "remove any obstacles that get in the way of getting the job done," she said. Boulder Bluff Principal Diane White said Wimmer is definitely succeeding in her job. Of  Wimmer's classroom, she said, "Imagine a classroom that is challenging, yet comfortable; supportive, but fast-paced; standards driven, but child oriented. (It's) the classroom with the teacher you would wish for your own child or grandchild."  Wimmer has been known to bring students to the office, not for discipline, but to share their successes, White said.   A tearful Wimmer addressed her peers at the gathering and said she couldn't have accomplished what she did without the people on her "made possible list," which included her husband, sons and the other third-grade teachers at the Goose Creek school.  Parker said he wasn't surprised by Wimmer's reaction, or other teachers at the gathering who seemed a bit uncomfortable with the attention they were getting. "Teachers typically shy away from individual recognition," he said. 

Wimmer began teaching about three years ago when she was 35 years old. She was working as an assistant to the executive vice president and provost of Mercer University when she decided to enroll and earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education. 

She was driven to earn her degree and to eventually teach despite many other demands on her time.  During much of the time she was in school, her husband was in Middle East serving in the Air Force. When he was away, Wimmer worked full time during the day, attended class at night, took care of her two children and studied after they went to bed. 

The road to becoming a teacher wasn't easy, but she thinks her life experiences make her a much better teacher.  Wimmer said she thinks it's important for teachers to look beyond their classrooms, understand the political issues that impact students and ensure that legislators are aware of classroom concerns.  But she thinks that national rankings don't adequately reflect the good work South Carolina schools are doing overall. South Carolina set high standards for test scores and uses difficult assessment tests, she said. But it's compared with other states with lower standards, she said.  Wimmer and other top teachers have been invited to join the Berkeley County Teacher Forum next year. The forum is active in district policy and instructional issues .  (Ms. Wimmer was my grandson's teacher this year.)