On Monday, Sept 29, 2008, Susan Chester, representing Campobello Gramling Elementary School, was named Spartanburg District One Distinguished Reading Teacher-of-the-Year for 2008-2009. &bsp;

Each year, one representative from each elementary school is named as that school&39;s Distinguished Reading Teacher and from that group, one individual is selected to represent Spartanburg District One Schools for the year.&bsp; The selection criteria is based on the teachers&squo; exemplary and innovative approach for teaching reading by a panel of judges. &bsp;

Other than Chester, the District One teachers nominated for the district award include the following candidates: Lisa Jones, representing Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary; Pam Johnson, representing Inman Elementary;&bsp; Bridget Thornton, representing Inman Intermediate; Anne-Marie Glover, representing New Prospect Elementary and Anne Nail, representing O. P. Earle Elementary.

Chester will now represent District One Spartanburg at the SCIRA Conference at Myrtle Beach in February 2009.

Chester is a product of District One schools, having attended Inman Elementary, Mabry Junior High, and Chapman High School. Her husband, Tom Chester, is also a District One graduate. Their two children, Clay and Morgan, attend District One schools as well. Chester graduated from USCS in 1992 with a degree in elementary education and received an M.Ed from Converse College in 1994.

This is Chester&squo;s 17th year of teaching and she has taught a variety of grades ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. The last 12 years she has spent teaching ELA and SS in fifth grade. When asked about the favorite parts of her job and her goals, she said, &dquo;It is a delight to see a reluctant reader discover the joy of reading. As a teacher, my goal is to provide my students with an environment rich in literacy experiences, resources, and models. My desire is to see my students actively engaged in reading, gaining understanding by using reading strategies and making those personal connections. Ultimately, it is my hope that this interaction with text will flourish into a personal joy of reading.&dquo;

For more information about Spartanburg District One Schools go to the website www.spart1.org or call Nancy McCarter at (864) 472-2846.