IRMO – Lexington-Richland School District Five has named finalists for its 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year award. The finalists are: Brooke Bridges, a Piney Woods Elementary School kindergarten teacher; Jennifer Goforth, a Reading Interventionist at Chapin Intermediate School; and Charles McDonald, a special education teacher at Lake Murray Elementary School.
Bridges has served at Piney Woods Elementary School since 2021. She began her teaching career in 2005. She received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Newberry College and her Master’s Degree in Divergent Learning from Columbia College. She also earned a reading endorsement and National Board Certification.
Bridges believes in the power of education to change lives and is committed to fostering curiosity, confidence and a love of learning in every child. Her first teacher was her mother who “poured her heart and soul into teaching,” and she wanted to be just like her! She helped Bridges understand a classroom is more than a place of learning – it is a place of belonging where all children are seen and valued.
“As a kindergarten teacher, I understand early literacy shapes a child’s relationship with reading,” Bridges said. “Teaching only letters and sounds without strategies to understand text can make reading feel frustrating. I teach phonics while offering authentic reading experiences, comprehension practice, and confidence-building. My goal is to foster lifelong learners with decoding skills and a curiosity to explore through books.”
Goforth has served at Chapin Intermediate School’s Reading Interventionist for one year. She also taught third grade for two years at Dutch Fork Elementary. She earned a BS in Elementary Education from Columbia College in 1999, followed by a Master’s in Divergent Learning. Furthering her expertise in supporting student literacy development, she achieved National Board Certification in Language and Literacy and later earned an Education Specialist degree in Language and Literacy from the University of South Carolina.
Goforth’s greatest contribution to education is her advocacy for children. She believes all students want to learn, be respected and feel valued. With the right conditions, encouragement, and support, every child can succeed. Her ability to connect with students helps them see their own potential. Her greatest accomplishment lies in fostering a belief in learning and ensuring students embrace the mindset that they too are capable of success.
“Every morning, I greet my students at the door with a handshake or high five to make them feel comfortable,” Goforth said. “This also gives me a chance to check in on their well-being—I can often head off worries just by noticing a difference in their facial expressions or body language. Taking time to check on each individual student at the start of the day builds trust and fosters a sense of safety in our classroom. Additionally, each student has a mindfulness journal which provides a safe space for students to write, draw, or list their thoughts. This journal offers an outlet for processing stress and anxiety while also serving as a place to set goals and make notes. These journals also play a crucial role in strengthening trust between me and my students. Offering a protected time daily for mindful practice, demonstrates to the students that their thoughts and emotions are valued. Students are given opportunities to express emotions they may not feel comfortable sharing aloud, write questions they might be too afraid to ask in class, and organize individual goals. These journals also serve as a safe space for students to record helpful strategies for coping with stressful situations. I often hold individual conferences with students to brainstorm ways they could signal me when they are confused or need to take a brain break.”
McDonald has worked at Lake Murray Elementary School since 2023 as a Special Education teacher and teaches in a Kindergarten – 2nd Grade Multi-Categorical Self-Contained class. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Innovation and Divergent Learning from Columbia College. His journey to teaching was unconventional but deeply purposeful. After serving in the Marine Corps, he sought to continue a life of service as an advocate for the disadvantaged. He worked as a counselor at a children’s home and as a caseworker for DSS. But it was his wife who first recognized his potential as an educator, encouraging him to pursue teaching despite his initial resistance. A pivotal moment came when he took a non-teaching role at an elementary school, where colleagues echoed his wife’s belief in his ability to connect with and inspire children. This led him to Columbia College’s Alternative Pathways to Educator Certification program (APEC), where he officially began his teaching career.
“My leadership extends beyond the classroom, urging lawmakers to consider the faces behind the statistics, McDonald said. “By fostering relationships with policymakers, I aim to shift the narrative from numbers to people. This effort is mirrored in my classroom, where I use hands-on, experiential learning strategies to engage my students, ensuring they feel valued, capable, and empowered. While my students may eventually forget my name, they will remember the safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment we built together. By encouraging them to dream big—even to become teachers themselves—I plant seeds for future change, cultivating a generation of advocates and leaders who will continue to fight for equity and opportunity in public education.”
Teacher of the Year winners from each school include: Kamela Oxner-West (Academy For Success), Leigh Carpenter (Adult Education), April Siders (Ballentine Elementary), Jessica Hidalgo (Center for Advanced Technical Studies), Nora Congialdi (Chapin Elementary), Brent Riley (Chapin High), Jennifer Goforth (Chapin Intermediate), Amanda Darlington (Chapin Middle), Yadira Curet-Toledo (CrossRoads Intermediate), Jennifer Tafel (Dutch Fork Elementary), Sarah Griffith (Dutch Fork High), Amanda Pifer (Dutch Fork Middle), Kimberly Flowers (FIVE), Mary Ellen Thompson (H. E. Corley Elementary), Julie Klemz (Harbison West Elementary), Hannah Pate (Irmo Elementary), Amy Mew (Irmo High), Ashley Evans (Irmo Middle), Charles McDonald (Lake Murray Elementary), Lacey Yeoman (Leaphart Elementary), Emily Satterfield (Nursery Road Elementary), Lucas White (Oak Pointe Elementary), Brooke Bridges (Piney Woods Elementary), Patti Norris (River Springs Elementary), Rehana Hakimji (Seven Oaks Elementary), and Lauren Brown (Spring Hill High).
Superintendent Akil E. Ross, Sr. said, “Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year finalists and those who were selected by their peers to represent their school in our district! Our staff truly shares the vision that ‘We love and grow our students’ and exemplify that in their classrooms. We are thankful to have the incredible talent and dedication of our teachers in School District Five and grateful for all they do to help our students be successful.”
