Upstate Teacher named Teacher of the Year Finalist

The South Carolina Education Department has released the names of five finalists for state Teacher of the Year. The finalists were chosen from nominees representing 81 public school districts and other special school districts in the state. Lisa McCrea-Raiford is an elementary teacher at the Center of Innovating Learning at Pinecrest in Aiken County. Darleen Sutton is a first grade teacher at Pickens Elementary School. Paul Johnson is a biology teacher at Saluda High School. Trevor Ivey is a science teacher at Alice Drive Middle School in Sumter. Jeffrey Venables is a chemistry teacher at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill. The winner will be announced May 1.  The winner receives $25,000 and a BMW to use for a year. The other finalists receive $10,000.