Teacher of Year 'never gives up,' principal says

Alan Hawes
The Post and Courier

Teacher of the Year Gwendolyn Benton (right) of Morningside Middle School gets a hug from Principal Kala Goodwine at the award banquet Thursday.

In the North Carolina schools where Gwendolyn Benton spent most of her 37-year teaching career, she always refused to be considered for Teacher of the Year because she didn't feel worthy of the honor.

But she didn't know her North Charleston co-workers had nominated her as their school's top teacher, so she couldn't refuse when she was named Morningside Middle School Teacher of the Year on March 19.

On Thursday night, Benton received even more recognition — she was named Charleston County Teacher of the Year.

"It is one of the greatest honors in my entire life," the reading teacher said afterward with tears in her eyes. "This is for Morningside, especially for the students. This is for them. They have made me what I am."

Benton will be the district's nominee for state Teacher of the Year, and she's received a one-year lease on a Volvo.

Benton is in only her second year as a teacher in Charleston County, and she already has become a leader among teachers in the high-poverty North Charleston school where she works, said Patricia Yandle, the associate superintendent

who oversees Morningside Middle. Benton cares about students in and outside her class, she said.

"She wants the whole school to be successful," Yandle said. "She's had lots of experiences, and she shares those. She really is the mother figure."

Kala Goodwine, principal of Morningside Middle, jumped while hugging Benton after the ceremony and cried for the next few minutes.

Goodwine said she could tell during Benton's interview that Benton would be a good fit for Morningside, and her prediction has come true. Benton has a good heart and a good spirit, and she'll pick the most difficult students in her class to work with and help, Goodwine said.

"She never gives up," she said. "She really deserves this."

Benton earned her bachelor and master's degrees from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and she's certified to teach Advanced Placement courses.

Her community involvement has been extensive. She's created an independent study curriculum to prepare high school basketball players for college, founded a teen scholarship pageant and serves on the board of directors of a home for abused or abandoned young women.

During her last few years in North Carolina schools, Benton worked as a coach for teachers, but she decided when she moved here that she wanted to be back in the classroom.

"If she was not my wife, I'd love for her to teach in my school," said Charles Benton, principal of Burke High School. "I'm real excited for her."

In her acceptance speech, Benton thanked her Creator, deceased parents, husband, three children and thousands of students whom she has taught. The honor has made every minute she has invested in teaching worthwhile, she said.

"It is a dream that has become a reality," she told the crowd.

Semifinalists

Erica Roberts of C.E. Williams Middle School was named runner-up Teacher of the Year. Other Teacher of the Year finalists included Edie Cusack of Cario Middle, Betty McKenzie of Laurel Hill Primary and David Wingard of Mitchell Elementary.

Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com.