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The School District of Oconee County Friday honored its top teachers, support employees and volunteers during a special ceremony. The overall winners from each category were, from left: Bob Steenberg, Support Employee of the Year; Jenni Clay, District Teacher of the Year and Elaine Swingle, Volunteer of the Year. Photo by Greg Oliver/Staff

WALHALLA — Code Elementary School will be represented next school year with the School District of Oconee County’s top support employee and volunteer while Orchard Park Elementary will house the district’s top teacher.

During the annual recognition program held Friday, Jenni Clay, of Orchard Park Elementary, was named the 2008-09 District Teacher of the Year while Bob Steenberg and Elaine Swingle, from Code Elementary, were named District Support Employee of the Year and District Volunteer of the Year, respectively.

The Teacher of the Year award is special because the teacher is recognized by their peers. A district Teacher of the Year award requires the completion of a one-page application on teaching philosophies, three letters of recommendation, a resume, an interview process in which the finalists are determined and the ability to conduct demonstration lessons for evaluation purposes.

Clay is a homegrown teacher, having been through the School District of Oconee County as a student at Westminster Elementary, the former Westminster Middle and West-Oak High. The Southern Wesleyan University graduate is in her fourth year, all at Orchard Park, and in her second year as a kindergarten teacher.

“It is overwhelming,” said Clay of the award. “It’s a special honor for me to represent the teachers who ignited my desire to enter into education.”

While teaching kindergarten students can be challenging at times, Clay uses her love of technology to make learning fun.

“I want to provide them with opportunities to experience the world through these hands-on activities,” said Clay. “The SmartBoard is so interactive that it’s no longer me standing up teaching them. They’re doing it themselves.”

Honor Roll Teachers for 2008-09 were also named during the ceremony and are as follows: Amy Snyder, Code Elementary School; Rhonda Cooper, Seneca Middle School and April Llibre, Walhalla High School.

The Support Employee of the Year award is presented to individuals that serve in office, custodial, maintenance or assistant positions in the district. This marks the third year for the award, with the previous two winners representing the former Oakway Middle School.

Steenberg, who has spent 15 years at Code Elementary, took a different path to his position. He was once employed by MCA Records and met such legendary recording artists as Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, as well as actor Steve Martin.

But it is Steenberg’s present position that has given him the most satisfaction. Admittedly, it has become like his second family as Steenberg is always the first to extend congratulations or offer condolences to students, teachers and staff. He will even kiss a pig for a charitable cause.

The students, though, are what Steenberg said makes every day he spends at the school worthwhile.

“I feel like a big daddy because some of these kids don’t have a dad,” he said.

Swingle has volunteered at Code Elementary for 17 years and, remarkably, has missed only one hour during that span. She works with art, bringing the subject alive by describing the artist and the emotions that inspired their work.

“The students really keep you motivated because you look in their eyes and see that they’re connecting with what you’re trying to share,” Swingle said.

Although she is leaving Oconee County after the present school year, Swingle said she will always appreciate the support received from teachers, the Blue Ridge Arts Council and especially parents.

“I believe parents are pleased that their students are exposed and taught how to express themselves in a positive way,” she said.

The remaining 2008-09 Teachers of the Year and the schools they represent are as follows:

• Terri Freeman, Fair-Oak Elementary

• Patricia L. Grant, James M. Brown Elementary

• Lynn Durham, J.N. Kellett Elementary

• Libby Imbody, Keowee Elementary

• Teresa Black, Northside Elementary

• Lynn Owen, Oakway Intermediate

• Tujuana Gordy, Ravenel Elementary

• Anna Durham, Tamassee-Salem Elementary

• Debbie Syck, Walhalla Elementary

• Tina Hawkins, Westminster Elementary

• Mickey Nichols, Tamassee-Salem Middle

• Keith Harrison, Walhalla Middle

• Kristy Crompton, West-Oak Middle

• Wallace Peebles, Fred P. Hamilton Career Center

• Nanelle Cook, Seneca High

• Tiffany Arnold, Tamassee-Salem High

• Mary Parker, West-Oak High

Honor Roll Teachers for 2008-09 were Amy Snyder, Code Elementary; Rhonda Cooper, Seneca Middle and April Llibre, Walhalla High.

The remaining 2008-09 School Level Support Employee of the Year and the schools they represent are as follows:

• Jo Ann Jackson, Fair-Oak Elementary

• Pam Holbrooks, James M. Brown Elementary

• Bridget Hilley, J.N. Kellett Elementary

• Harry Cappell, Keowee Elementary

• Nancy Bock, Northside Elementary

• Angie Dickerson, Oakway Intermediate

• Kristie Jones, Orchard Park Elementary

• Diana Bergey, Ravenel Elementary

• Cathy Shuler, Tamassee-Salem Elementary

• Renee Cain, Walhalla Elementary

• Eva Martin, Westminster Elementary

• Royal Wilson, Seneca Middle

• Brooke Patterson, Walhalla Middle

• Wanda Wald, West-Oak Middle

• Ashley Taylor, Fred P. Hamilton Career Center

• Sandy Barnes, Seneca High

• Lynn Peak, Tamassee-Salem Middle/High

• Marty Smith, Walhalla High

• Hazel Head, West-Oak High

The remaining 2008-09 School Level Volunteer of the Year, and the schools they represent, are as follows:

• Don Seigler, Fair-Oak Elementary

• Bob Lipscomb, James M. Brown Elementary

• Wilco Hartman, J.N. Kellett Elementary

• Renee Runz, Keowee Elementary

• Melissa Fletcher, Northside Elementary

• Deb Williams, Oakway Intermediate

• Kim Hurtado, Orchard Park Elementary

• Laura Wagner, Ravenel Elementary

• Lorraine Land, Tamassee-Salem Elementary

• Terri Wilbanks, Walhalla Elementary

• Melissa Taylor, Westminster Elementary

• Dr. Ed Evans, Seneca Middle

• Jamia Oakley, Walhalla Middle

• Sundie Stone, West-Oak Middle

• Josh Drake, Fred P. Hamilton Career Center

• Dana Moore, Seneca High

• Stephanie Chandler, Tamassee-Salem Middle/High

• Olivia Timms, Walhalla High

• Amanda Watkins, West-Oak High