Anderson County educator wins South Carolina Teacher of Year. 'It truly takes a village.'

Travis Jacque Rose, Anderson Independent Mail
Updated ·3 min read
Braden Wilson, who teaches 8th-grade social studies at Palmetto Middle School in Williamston and SC Teacher of the Year finalist, holds her $10,000 check she received from the SC Department of Education.
Braden Wilson, who teaches 8th-grade social studies at Palmetto Middle School in Williamston and SC Teacher of the Year finalist, holds her $10,000 check she received from the SC Department of Education.
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Braden Wilson, who teaches 8th-grade social studies at Palmetto Middle School in Williamston, was named 2025 South Carolina Teacher of the Year.

The 2025 South Carolina Teacher Gala in the Garden was live-streamed Thursday from the Governor's Mansion in Columbia, 800 Richland St.

South Carolina's Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver expressed her appreciation to everyone who contributed to the event's success, including presenting sponsors BMW, volunteers, finalists, and teachers across the state. She commended their hard work and commitment to education.

Thomas Hodges, the dean of the University of South Carolina College of Education, also announced that the winner would receive a free graduate degree from the university's College of Education.

Three other Upstate teachers were finalists for the South Carolina Teacher of the Year award.

Katie Farr, a first-grade teacher at Wellford Academy of Science and Technology in Wellford and SC Teacher of the Year finalist, holds her $10,000 check she received from the SC Department of Education.
Katie Farr, a first-grade teacher at Wellford Academy of Science and Technology in Wellford and SC Teacher of the Year finalist, holds her $10,000 check she received from the SC Department of Education.

Katie Farr of Wellford Academy of Science and Technology Spartanburg District Five, Blake Bishop, a social studies teacher at Ware Shoals High School District 51, and Bekah Hamrick at Cherokee County School District's Institute of Innovation were finalists.

Anderson County District Two's Ashleigh Marcie, District Three's Brantley Caldwell, and District Four's Camille Richardson were also recognized as District Teachers of the Year.

The remaining finalists also received $10,000.

About Braden Wilson: SC Teacher of the Year

Braden Wilson is currently in her 10th year in education. After receiving the honor, Wilson said, "I am honored and humbled to represent South Carolina educators. I don’t think there are really adequate words to express how honored I feel right now and how humbling it is to represent a group as amazing as South Carolina educators.

“I don’t think that any of the honors or recognitions, however, you would like to refer to it, are mine or because of me or anything I do, but it’s more of a recognition of all of the collaboration that I get to do every day in the halls at Palmetto Middle School, across Anderson District One and now here having met all of you.”

According to Superintendent Robbie Binnicker, "Wilson has been positively impacting, inspiring, and educating students for roughly a decade. Her passion for history and dedication to her students is evident through her energetic and engaging lessons.

“Anderson One is excited and very proud of Braden Wilson on being named South Carolina Teacher of the Year,” Binnicker said. “She is an exceptional teacher who motivates and inspires her students to reach their goals and achieve their full potential every day. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will have on other educators across the state.”

As South Carolina Teacher of the Year, Binnicker said, "Wilson will serve as a roving ambassador for one year."

According to the South Carolina Department of Education, she will provide mentoring, attend speaking engagements, work with Teacher Cadets and Teaching Fellows, lead the State Teacher Forum, and be the state spokesperson for thousands of educators.

In addition, Wilson also won $25,000 and received a brand-new BMW to use while serving as a roving ambassador.

The Charles Dickerson Community Service Award

"The Bojangles Foundation has supported the South Carolina Teacher of the Year for 15 years," according to Bojangles representative Ken Reynolds. "Each year, the Bojangles Foundation provides each district teacher of the year with books to use in their classroom.

The award is given annually to a district teacher of the year with a noted commitment to community service.

Walhalla High School Visual Arts teacher Teena Hunt won the Charles Dickerson Community Service Award.

"Hunt found meaningful community projects for her students to participate in. They created a mural outside the local post office," Reynolds said.

"An artist can choose to hide their talents or share them with others," Hunt said. "It is always my goal for our student artists' abilities to be recognized in our school and our community."

Haunt was awarded a $500 award and will also choose a charity to which she will donate another $500 reward.

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Palmetto Middle School teacher wins statewide recognition, what to know