District Names Annie Stribling Thirkell As Its First Year Teacher of

Aiken County
Public School District
Merry Glenne Piccolino
Public Information Officer
803.641.2639
mpiccolino@acpsd.net
www.acps.schoolfusion.net
For Immediate Release
AIKEN COUNTY NAMES ITS FIRST YEAR TEACHER OF THE YEAR: MS. ANNIE STRIBLING THIRKELL, A
THIRD-GRADE TEACHER AT EAST AIKEN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
Well-liked and valued by her principal, grade-level team, fellow teachers,
parents and students, the District named Ms. Annie Stribling Thirkell as the 20142015 First Year Teacher of the Year at a Reception held this afternoon, April 15,
2015 at Jackson Middle School.
The District’s First Year Teacher of the Year is an annual honor bestowed on the
induction year educator who best demonstrates mastery of the ADEPT
Performance Standards in Planning, Instruction, Environment, and
Professionalism throughout their first year in Aiken County Public Schools.
With a goal of providing structural support for the challenges and concerns of
induction year educators, Aiken County Public Schools’ Induction and
Mentoring Program leads the District’s new teachers through their first year with
coaching and ongoing professional development, as well as special recognition
to new teacher leaders.
The selection process begins at the school level with a First Year Teacher of the
Year Committee of mentors and administrators who recommend the teacher
that would best represent their school in the District’s selection process.
The District Selection Committee, comprised this year of Sandy Polk, Brenda
Johnson, Denise Huff and Jason Holt, and the current First Year Teacher of the
Year Emilee Meek, reviewed 24 outstanding new Teacher of the Year applicants
submitted by schools throughout the District and selected Ms. Annie Stribling
Thirkell as the 2014-2015 Aiken County Public Schools First Year Teacher of the
Year.
Upon learning that she’d been selected, Annie thanked the selection
committee, her mentor, East Aiken School of the Arts, and her amazingly
supportive family, who all walked in surprising Annie as she stepped up to the
stage to accept her award. Annie says she was overwhelmed as she looked
over and saw her new husband of three weeks Alex Thirkell, her parents Ellen
and Tommy Stribling, grandmother Betsy Stribling, twin sister and brother in law
Mandy and Drew Nelson, and her new in-laws Teresa and Tom Thirkell.
The new Mrs. Thirkell also expressed how honored and surprised she was to have
been chosen as the District’s First Year Teacher of the Year among so many
wonderful induction year educators who she’s leaned on for support and
encouragement this first year. Among them was Katie Pope, fellow First Year
Teacher of the Year from North Aiken Elementary and long-time friend who, in
the tenth grade, actually introduced Annie to the man she’d ultimately marry.
“I’m so proud of Annie,” Ms. Pope said, “she is so engaging and supportive to
everyone.”
In addition to the honor, Annie received a silver plate, a $100 check from Mr.
Kevin Hunt, an insurance representative from Horace Mann, and a gold Teacher
of the Year Ring from Mr. Thomas Rhodes with Rhodes Graduation Services,
representing Jostens.
“When she interviewed, there was a spark about her,” said East Aiken School of
the Arts’ Principal Ms. Lisa Fallaw. “You could just see that she was born to be a
teacher.”
Annie was so excited to receive the call last summer from East Aiken expressing
the school’s interest in meeting her and when she learned that her interview
would conflict with plans to travel overseas with her then-fiancé the following
day, she offered to end her last-minute shopping trip at Target and head right
over to the school for the interview, but warned them that she’d be wearing
gym shorts. And that’s exactly what she did. “It will always be my favorite
interview,” Ms. Fallaw laughed. “That positivity and drive is just Annie and has
been contagious for my other teachers and staff.”
According to Ellen Stribling, Annie’s mom and a teacher herself, her daughter
grew up experiencing the profession and has followed her life-long dream. “I
couldn’t have been more proud of how she’s handled this first year.”
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