Taking her spot at the podium early Friday morning, Rebecca Rawls Croskey nervously laughed and made a quick promise to her fellow educators: "I'm going to try to get through this without crying."
Croskey proceeded to flawlessly nail an acceptance speech that was very emotional, but rightfully so – moments earlier, she had just been pleasantly surprised with the news that she is Berkeley County School District’s Teacher of the Year during a special breakfast at Trident Technical College. VIEW PHOTOS.
All 48 teachers who have been named Teachers of the Year at their respective schools are invited to attend this annual event, which is sponsored by the Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce and Santee Cooper. Teachers were joined by district officials and school administrators as they celebrated the recognition and waited to hear the news of who was selected for District Teacher of the Year.
Before making the big announcement, Superintendent Dr. Anthony Dixon thanked all of BCSD’s Teachers of the Year for their ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in the classroom.
“This profession is certainly not an easy one, yet you who are gathered here today are shining examples of what great teachers can accomplish,” he said. “Thank you for your dedication to building bridges for our students across our district. You are incredible at what you do, and I’m so proud of each and every one of you, and the legacy you carry within your schools.”
Croskey has served at Cane Bay Middle for eight years and teaches creative writing. She is credited for making writing fun – and trying to get her students excited about becoming better writers. She was previously named one of the district’s eight semi-finalists for the title. Last month, she was selected as one of three finalists that also included Stormey Walker from Hanahan Middle and William S. Chasserreau from Berkeley High.
Becoming a teacher was a career change for Croskey, who said she always wanted to be a teacher, but it was not until after she and her husband welcomed their first child into the world that she made the leap, and subsequently enrolled in the PACE program to become a certified teacher.
“If you had told me eight years ago, as I fumbled my way through my first semester of teaching, that I would be giving this speech, I would have laughed out loud,” Croskey said. “At that point, I was doing my best just to keep my head above water.”
However, Croskey said she had a lot of support as she grew as a teacher. Croskey credits her school’s principal, Dr. Carol Beckmann Bartlett, for being one of her biggest cheerleaders and mentors over the last eight years.
“Her leadership and guidance and patience have allowed me to not only grow in my practice but also thrive in a community that celebrates creativity and experimentation,” Croskey said. “Her willingness to welcome me into the Cobra community has radically transformed my life for the better, connecting me with countless teachers who pour their passion into their practice each and every day.”
Croskey further thanked a her fellow Cobras – her colleagues and students – and especially the school’s Instructional Coach, Allison Walker, who Croskey said helped her take “wild ideas” and turn them into meaningful, relevant lessons that her students grew to love.
Croskey will now join BCSD’s Teacher Forum, on which she will serve for two years to further support BCSD’s teachers.
“As your District Teacher of the Year, I ask you to choose joy – the joy that brought you to this profession, the joy that keeps you here,” Croskey said, adding, “Dare to imagine what the future of your classroom could be. I’m here to help, and I’m ready to serve.”
