Debra Giles, an English Teacher from Landrum High School, was named Spartanburg District One Schools Teacher-of-the- Year for 2008-2009.&bsp; When asked about her favorite part of teaching, she said, &dquo;What I love about teaching is the idea of being able to share my love of writing and literature with high school students. I also enjoy taking a very old piece of literature and presenting it in a new way so that students get excited and really understand that literature is timeless!&dquo;

She has been married to David Giles for (31) years and they live in the Lake Bowen area. &bsp;

They have two children:&bsp; Matthew,&bsp; who graduated from Chapman High and Wofford College and is now employed at Wofford as Assistant Director of News Services and also serves as music director at New Beginnings Methodist Church.&bsp; Their second son, Timothy also graduated from Chapman High School and the SC Governors School for the Arts and is now at Rutgers in New Jersey.

Brian Sherman, Principal of Landrum High School said after being told Ms. Giles won the Teacher-of-the-Year for Spartanburg District One,&bsp; &dquo;Debra is just that type of teacher that never stops working; she never gives up on a child and the type of teacher you want your child to have.&dquo;

Ms. Giles received her Bachelors of Art Degree in English in 2002 and her MAT in 2004 from Converse College.

She has been teaching English at Landrum High School for four years. &bsp;

Other District One Teachers-of-the-Year school representatives include:&bsp; Martha Castro, Campobello Gramling; Danielle Hamrick, Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School, Teresita Beach, Inman Elementary; Rhonda Henson, Inman Intermediate; Beth Kennerly, New Prospect Elementary; Cecilia England, O.P. Earle Elementary; Sarah Davis, Landrum Middle; Duane Todd, Mabry Middle; Kevin Carr, Chapman High and Barbara Gilbert, H.B. Swofford Career Center.

Superintendent Jimmy Littlefield said, &dquo;We certainly have top quality teachers in Spartanburg District One and are extremely proud of our 2008-2009 Teachers-of-the-Year for our schools.&bsp; Each representative reflects Spartanburg District One&squo;s mission, &dquo;to educate all students in a safe and positive environment for the purpose of developing responsible and productive citizens by seeking constant improvement and innovation through mutual cooperation of home, school and community.&dquo;