A house RESOLUTION

TO recognize and honor Katherine (Katy) J. Handell, a special education teacher at Lake Murray Elementary, and to congratulate her for being named the District Teacher of the Year for Lexington County School District One.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Katherine (Katy) J. Handell has been named the District Teacher of the Year by Lexington County School District One, in recognition of her outstanding teaching abilities and commitment and dedication to educating students; and

Whereas, Katy Handell was honored for the accomplishment at the district's annual Teacher of the Year Celebration, held on March 30, 2023, at Lexington High School's Performing Arts Center. A special education teacher, she goes on to compete in next year's state-level Teacher of the Year program; and

Whereas, Katy Handell's childhood dream was to become a teacher, and now she uses her passion to provide  preschool students the tools they need to be successful.  She also works tirelessly to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in her classroom, in the school, and beyond; and

Whereas, in preparation for her life's career, she earned a bachelor's degree in special education, early childhood education, and elementary education from Erskine College and a Master of Education in severe and multiple disabilities from the University of South Carolina.  She is also a board-certified, behavior analyst; and

Whereas, an educator for fifteen years, Katy Handell was chosen from among the thirty-one teachers from schools in Lexington County School District One, who were chosen as Teacher of the Year in their respective schools: seventeen elementary schools, eight middle schools, five high schools, and one technology center; and

Whereas, part of the selection process required each of the thirty-one school-level Teachers of the Year to complete a written application form, judged by three teams of elementary school-level judges, one team of middle school-level judges, and one team of high school-level judges who used an established rubric to read and score the application forms; and

Whereas, the two school-level teachers with the highest scores from each team of judges became the Top 10 Finalists: six finalists from elementary schools, two from middle schools, and two from high schools; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives value the work of dedicated educators in the Palmetto State, who devote themselves to our youth by helping them to prepare to become productive citizens, and especially teachers like Katy Handell who faithfully serve our students with special needs.   Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Katherine (Katy) J. Handell, a special education teacher at Lake Murray Elementary School, and congratulate her for being named the District Teacher of the Year for Lexington County School District One.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Katherine (Katy) J. Handel.

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