Band Director at Whitmire Community School

The SCEA

January 15, 2015
Page 2

CONTACT: Kristine Hartvigsen, Office 803-551-4154; Cell 803-237-9625

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Band Director at Whitmire Community School

Named The SCEA Teacher of the Month

COLUMBIA, SC (January 15, 2015) – Whitmire Community School music educator and band director Christopher Wofford has been named The South Carolina Education Association’s Teacher of the Month for January.

Mr. Wofford received multiple online nominations for the honor. TV commercials on WACH FOX stations across the state help publicize the recognition.

“My teacher rocks because he is not only a teacher but a friend. Mr. Wofford is a music teacher that lets me explore music in a way that I never did before. Whenever I need help with music, he is always there and is more than glad to work after school. Mr. Wofford is there for me whenever I need some guidance. This is why my teacher rocks,” wrote student Yaunna Hunter.

“During marching band season, Chris is often at the school from 7 a.m. until at least 7 p.m. (or even at midnight during football season). He writes his own marching band shows. That has taken his students to state finals the last two years!” wrote another nominator who wished to remain anonymous. “He took his entire band to a popular leadership seminar for students. He can sometimes be found playing Frisbee with the kids during his/their lunch period. He always demands excellence from every student and never accepts less than their best.”

“The SCEA commends Mr. Wofford for his tireless devotion to his students and school,” said Bernadette R. Hampton, President of The SCEA. “He exemplifies the extra-mile kind of educator we must attract and keep in South Carolina. Congratulations to Mr. Wofford for this much-deserved recognition.”

A Spartanburg native, Mr. Wofford is a graduate of Broome High School. He received his bachelor of music education degree from Newberry College and has taught at every public school level, from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. He has been band and chorus director at Whitmire Community School since 2012. In addition, Mr. Wofford is the children’s choir and praise band director at the Central United Methodist Church in Newberry. In his spare time, he plays in a rock cover band called “121,” which performs in and around the Midlands.

“I have always known that teaching was my calling,” Mr. Wofford said. “I absolutely love giving children of all ages the opportunities to be successful and helping them discover what they really can accomplish. My father always told me to choose a job that I would love and I would never feel like it was ‘work.’ From my point of view, I haven’t started ‘work’ yet!”

If you would like to nominate an outstanding teacher for The SCEA Teacher of the Month, please complete an online nomination form at myteacherrockssc.com.

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The South Carolina Education Association is the state’s oldest and most powerful professional association for educators and the leading advocate for quality public education in South Carolina. Learn more at www.thescea.org.