Lexington-Richland School District Five teacher Gayle Whitlock has been named the South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program’s Educator of the month by State Treasurer Curtis Loftis.

Whitlock began her teaching career in 2007 as an advanced training instructor at the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy. In 2012, Whitlock transitioned to District Five, where she served as a middle school special education teacher.

Currently, Whitlock teaches high school students in the district’s FIVE Virtual Program, which offers flexible scheduling in a virtual learning environment.

She earned a bachelor's of science in criminal justice and a masters of arts in teaching in special education from the University of South Carolina. Whitlock holds national board certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist and is certified in South Carolina as a special education teacher.

The South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teach program aims to increase the number of students receiving quality personal finance education. The program also equips teachers with the tools and training to better teach financial literacy.

“Financial literacy is a vital life skill that all students need for their success,” Whitlock said in a press release. “Whether it’s balancing their checkbooks, budgeting their funds or calculating percentages, I enjoy passing these skills onto my students and know it will help them on their future path. And I am also grateful for the opportunity to share these lessons with my fellow teachers to increase their financial knowledge.”

To be eligible for the program, educators must be certified in kindergarten through 12^th grade in a public, charter or private school and teach students for at least half the day.

Teachers must also have at least three years of experience and participate in professional development related to financial literacy. Teachers must express an interest in providing students with essential skills to help them make smart decisions with their money.

“The South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program continues to equip more teachers with the skills and resources they need to motivate their students to make informed financial decisions,” Treasurer Loftis said. “I applaud the efforts of educators like Gayle Whitlock, who is inspiring her students with valuable lessons that will help them throughout their lives.”