Chapin High School teacher Amy Carter got quite the surprise last week.

State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman revealed Carter has been selected as 1 of 5 finalists for the prestigious South Carolina Teacher of the Year award.

“I am just thrilled and overwhelmed,” Carter said. “It is incredibly humbling to represent teachers in my profession. I was just teaching my students about powerful stories and this is just an amazing part of my story. Thank you so much for this honor!”

Spearman and Lexington-Richland School District 5 Superintendent Dr. Christina Melton joined staff and students from Chapin High School along with Carter’s family to make the surprise announcement inside Carter’s classroom.

“Amy’s love and passion for education is evident the moment you walk into her classroom,” said Spearman. “Her leadership and dedication for teaching inspires not only her students but also her peers.”

Carter is a National Board Certified English teacher at Chapin High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English Education at the University of Georgia, and a masters degree in Educational Technology from the University of South Carolina.

As a finalist, Amy will receive $10,000 and go on to the next stage of competition which involves an interview with a team of expert judges. The winner will be announced at the South Carolina Teacher of the Year Gala on May 5 in Columbia.

The winner receives a total of $25,000 and is provided with a brand new BMW to use while serving for 1 year as a roving ambassador providing mentoring, attending speaking engagements, working with teacher cadets and teaching fellows, leading the State Teacher Forum, and serving as the state spokesperson for over 50,000 educators.