JOHNSTON, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Edgefield County School District proudly honored some of its brightest stars during the school district’s annual “Morning for Stars” breakfast celebration held on Friday at Pine Ridge Golf Club.
During the event, the school district recognized its school-level Teachers of the Year and Support Staff of the Year before announcing the district’s overall Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year.
The honorees for this year’s event included:
- Douglas Elementary School Teacher of the Year Anna Young and Support Staff of the Year Damien Bowman.
- Johnston Elementary School Teacher of the Year April Arthur and Support Staff of the Year Elizabeth Hill.
- Merriwether Elementary School Teacher of the Year Mike Keltz and Support Staff of the Year Gloria Robinson.
- W.E. Parker Elementary School Teacher of the Year Andrew Barwick and Support Staff of the Year Tracy Grandy.
- JET Middle School Teacher of the Year Kelly Mcilvried-Gettys and Support Staff of the Year Jillian Mosuch.
- Merriwether Middle School Teacher of the Year Kristen Taylor and Support Staff of the Year John Oliphant.
- Strom Thurmond High School Teacher of the Year Jasmine East and Support Staff of the Year Angela Garrett.
- Strom Thurmond Career and Technology Center Teacher of the Year Derrick Williams and Support Staff of the Year Diane Johnson.
Merriwether Middle School Librarian Kristen Taylor was announced as the school district’s 2025-26 Teacher of the Year, while former Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle School Paraprofessional Jillian Mosuch was announced as the school district’s 2025-26 Support Staff of the Year.
Taylor was inspired to become an educator after seeing how her younger brother’s middle school experience shaped him. That moment gave her a heart for supporting students during these critical years.
As the school librarian, she has created programs such as Battle of the Books and Book Speed Dating, helping students discover the joy of reading — often for the very first time…