Lexington-Richland School District Five announced its new Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year during a May 6 ceremony.

Sarah Gams, an English teacher at Spring Hill High School, was named School District Five’s 2019-2020

Teacher of the Year during the district’s Employee Recognition Program. Kim Carroll, a special education teacher assistant at Chapin Middle, was named Support Employee of the Year. The district also recognized retirees during the event.

School District Five Superintendent Dr. Christina Melton said, “The most valuable resource we have is our people and to me it is so important to celebrate them. School District Five is great because of the many caring and talented teachers and support staff we have in our schools, and Mrs. Gams and Mrs. Carroll represent the best of the best in our district. We congratulate them, and we thank our retirees for their hard work, dedication, and commitment over the years.”

Gams has served at Spring Hill High School since 2013. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of South Carolina’s Honors College and has a master’s degree in teaching from the university. Prior to teaching at Spring Hill High, Gams taught English and language arts at Chapin Middle School.

“It is just thrilling and unexpected because there are so many wonderful teachers in this district,” Gams said. “I was already truly honored to be a part of the Teacher of the Year Class of 2019. I am blessed and so appreciative and excited to represent School District Five as Teacher of the Year!”

Carroll has been with the district for two years. She received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina and also graduated from the Criminal Justice Academy after college.

“I am speechless right now and overwhelmed with emotion,” Carroll said. “I absolutely love what I do and to be honored like this is just amazing. I am so excited for the next year and I am really overjoyed.”

Gams and Carroll were chosen by a committee after being named Honor Roll finalists in both categories. Along with Gams, Jessica Bower from Chap-in Middle and Erin Roberts from Irmo Elementary were named as Teacher of the Year finalists. Christina Woody from Ballentine Elementary and Betsy Crawford from Lake Murray Elementary accompanied Carroll as finalists for the district’s Honor Roll Support Employee of the Year.