School District Five has announced its new Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year during a May 11 ceremony.
Anna Maria Hinson, an English teacher at Spring Hill High School, was named School District Five’s 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year during the district’s Employee Recognition Program. Jeannette Farr, a literacy lab assistant at CrossRoads Intermediate School, was named the 2026-2027 Support Employee of the Year.
“To be able to celebrate education and our Teachers of the Year and our Support Employees of the Year tonight is a recognition to our community that shows how important our staff is to the vision of our district and that is to Love and Grow Our Students,” School District Five Superintendent Dr. Akil Ross said. “All of our honorees are winners and are a great representation of our district and the fine profession of education.”
Hinson has served at Spring Hill High School for the past 6 years. She currently teaches grades 9 and 10 including English 1 CP, English 1 Honors, and English 2 Honors. Hinson holds a Bachelor of Arts in English (2019) and a Master of Teaching for Secondary English (2020) from the University of South Carolina. In addition to earning her master’s degree, Hinson is Gifted and Talent Certified and earned the prestigious distinction of National Board Certification in 2024.
“I am just incredibly honored to represent the teachers, educators, faculty members and the students in District Five,” Hinson said. “I am just so thankful for this district that I grew up in and I did my student teaching in and now have the pleasure to work in. There is no district like School District Five and I am looking forward to highlighting the amazing magic that happens inside our schools.”
Farr has been at CrossRoads Intermediate School for five years. She also is the Irmo High School Cross Country Head Coach. She is a sponsor for CrossRoads Intermediate School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) group, investing in students’ character and leadership development. She previously served as the Midlands Area Assistant Director for Run Hard for 3 years.
“I am grateful and beyond excited to know that I get to be here and represent all support employees in School District Five,” Farr said. “I believe that support employees are a vital part of this district because they are the support beams that hold the district together. Our support helps teachers and administrators do their jobs more effectively which in turn helps students perform to their full potential.”
Hinson and Farr were chosen by a committee after being named Honor Roll finalists in both categories. Along with Hinson, Kathryn Meetze from H. E. Corley Elementary and Patrick Smallwood from the Center for Advanced Techical Studies were named Teacher of the Year finalists. Dina LaBarca from Ballentine Elementary and Jess Catalano from H. E. Corley Elementary accompanied Farr as finalists for the year’s District’s Support Employee of the Year.
