Lexington-Richland School District Five announced its new Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year during a May 2 ceremony.
Elisa Westfall, an English teacher at CrossRoads Intermediate School, was named School District Five’s 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year during the district’s Employee Recognition Program. Katlyn Krumrey, a secretary of the Flexible Innovative Virtual Education (FIVE) program, was named 2022-2023 Support Employee of the Year.
School District Five Superintendent Dr. Akil Ross said, “To be able to celebrate education and our Teachers of the Year and our Support Employees of the Year tonight is a recognition to our community that shows how important our staff is to the vision of our district and that is to “Love and Grow All Students.” All of our honorees are winners and are a great representation of our district and the fine profession of education.”
Westfall has worked at CrossRoads Intermediate School since 1999. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College where she was a double major in Elementary Education and Theater. She also earned her master’s in education from Columbia College in elementary education. Westfall earned and renewed her National Board Certification in Early Adolescence/English Language Arts, while also being highly qualified in Gifted and Middle Level Instruction.
“I am humbled, honored and so very appreciative to be named Teacher of the Year for School District Five,” Westfall said. “I am excited to represent CrossRoads Intermediate and our district in the coming year. I can’t wait to see what happens in our future.”
Krumrey joined the district five years ago and before taking on her role at FIVE, she served as the principal’s secretary at Irmo Middle School.
“I feel incredibly overwhelmed because I was not expecting to win,” Krumrey said. “I am so incredibly thankful and humbled that I was nominated and was an Honor Roll Finalist with two incredible ladies. I am looking forward to sharing the message that even if you are not a teacher, you can be a champion for students and really make a difference in their lives.”
Westfall and Krumrey were chosen by a committee after being named Honor Roll finalists in both categories. Along with Westfall, Robin Amick from Dutch Fork High and Sarah Kimberlin from Chapin High were named as Teacher of the Year finalists. Laurie Martin from Oak Pointe Elementary and Denise Osolin from Lake Murray Elementary accompanied Krumrey as finalists for the year’s District’s Support Employee of the Year.
