Nathan White

Lower Richland High School teacher, Twanda Addison, has won two state teaching awards this year. She was recently named 2008- 09 South Carolina Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year. She qualified for that award when she was named 2008- 09 South Carolina Health Science Technology Educators Teacher of the Year in January.

As the state winner, Addison will compete for national teacher of the year honors later this year. She teaches health science, pharmacy technology and medical terminology at Lower Richland.

Nathan White, principal of the Olympia Learning Center, was awarded the prestigious Carolina Careers Governor's Award as a 2008 Educational Champion of the Year. This award recognizes South Carolina educators who develop innovative and challenging programs to prevent or reduce the number of students dropping out of high school. White was recognized for successfully implementing Olympia's Star Academy, a model program which helps at- risk students stay in school and graduate.

The Star Academy's success also has been featured in two national educational

Twanda Addison

publications, The Pitsco Network and Techniques.

National interest in the program continues to grow. The Star Academy Program, as well as other Olympia programs, will be prominently featured at the National Alliance of Black School Educators Conference in Atlanta November 18-23.

The SC Minority Business Enterprise Center awarded Richland One its 2008 Procurement Award at ceremonies held September 30 in Columbia. The district was honored for its support of minority and rural businesses involved in its recent school construction projects.

For more information please contact the Richland One Office of Communications at 231-7504 or 231-7510.