SENECA — Zandra P. Overstreet, a former Walhalla Middle School teacher who has been a member of the Seneca High School teaching staff since 2005, has been named the state’s top teacher in the area of family and consumer science.

The South Carolina Association of Family and Consumer Science (FACS) Teachers named Overstreet Teacher of the Year during the 100th anniversary of the group’s annual meeting in Spartanburg Tuesday. Eleanor Glover, who nominated Overstreet for the award, noted Overstreet’s “outstanding and innovative classroom programs.”

“I feel very fortunate to have received this honor from my fellow FACS teachers,” Overstreet said. “Most of all, I’d like to thank the School District of Oconee County for their support over the last 12 years.”

Oconee County District Superintendent Mike Lucas praised Overstreet for the honor bestowed by her peers.

“This is a wonderful honor and a credit to Mrs. Overstreet’s skill as a teacher,” Lucas said.

Since arriving at Seneca High, Overstreet’s achievements include developing and implementing the school’s first culinary arts program, the first fashion design program and a new family and consumer science program. Overstreet has also led her students in participating in community service activities such as the Ronald McDonald House.

Next month, Overstreet and her students will participate in an international project that provides cloth diapers to third world countries. Her students will make the diapers from “gently used” t-shirts donated by the community.

During the past four years, Overstreet has received five grants totaling more than $20,000 for school projects.

While teaching at Walhalla Middle School, Overstreet continued the family and consumer science curriculum and piloted the personal skills curriculum for the South Carolina Department of Education. She said one of her most popular projects was the “Evening with the Arts” dinner program — a sell-out event including a dinner theater with student entertainment and a full three course meal prepared and served by the middle school students.