SWU graduate one of five finalists for 2020 S.C. Teacher of the Year
Ashley Bennett, a middle school teacher at Woodruff Middle School and Southern Wesleyan University graduate, was named one of five finalists for the South Carolina Teacher of the Year Award.
State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said, "Ashley is an outstanding teacher whose dedication to her students is exhibited in her classroom every day.”
“I was in shock. I never fathomed I would receive that honor,” said Bennett, believing that God made this achievement possible for her. As a young girl at a church camp, Bennett felt He was calling her to become a teacher. She feels that God hasn’t left public schools as some would say, and she feels a responsibility to be a light and an inspiration to her students. While her seventh-graders are forced to stay home because of restrictions brought on by COVID-19, Bennett tries to keep up with them through texting and social media.
Being an advocate for students
Because many of her students either have no Internet access or limited access, Bennett hopes to use her position as a finalist as a platform to raise awareness of a digital divide between urban and rural areas and the many residents for whom online education isn’t happening simply because the infrastructure isn’t there. For those students with no Internet, Bennett gives them a packet including copies of course work on material already covered in class. For those with computers, they have an online assignment that requires internet access.
“Our district is one of the largest districts geographically. We are also the 12th poorest school district in South Carolina. Digital learning is very difficult here. We, as a state, have a responsibility to provide broadband to all students. I have students that digital learning is not an option,” said Bennett. “I don’t have access at my home other than a digital hotspot on my phone. Accessibility for all students is key to educational equity and even then, we must be aware that digital learning in the home can still be inequitable when regarding home-life, support, and living conditions.”
Coming to SWU
Bennett says she has fond memories of her graduate education at SWU. At the time she was a young mother with small children and appreciated the flexibility that her once-a-week meetings afforded. More than a decade later, she still keeps in touch with many of her classmates from her cohort. Entering Southern Wesleyan’s M.Ed. program (now MEDCL) just a few years into her teaching career, Bennett appreciated being able to dig more deeply into the subject matter that turned out to be helpful to her in her classroom.
“Prior to teaching in a classroom, you don’t really have a perspective other than being a student. My experience at Southern Wesleyan was enlightening. I experienced growth in my pedagogy and my practice. Each week of instruction was like an open workshop where I could apply my learning directly in my classroom. For me that learning was very practical and helped me grow exponentially as a teacher,” Bennett said.
The Teacher of the Year program celebrates excellence and strengthens the teaching force by honoring and recognizing exceptional teachers on the district, state, and national level.
For details about education degrees offered, contact Southern Wesleyan University at 877-644-5556 or visit www.swu.edu.
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, go online to swu.edu.
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