At the 26th Annual School Foundation Gala, Dr. Richard O’Malley announced that Pauline Dixon is the Florence 1 Schools Teacher of the Year. Dixon is a 19-year teaching veteran who teaches first grade at Wallace-Gregg Elementary. She believes that a strong literacy foundation opens every other door to learning.
Dixon earned a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education and a Master of Education in instructional accommodation from Francis Marion University. Prior to serving at Wallace-Gregg, she served as a teacher and literacy coach at Theodore Lester and as a teacher at Timrod Elementary.
Myah Woods, principal of Wallace-Gregg Elementary, said, “Ms. Dixon is truly the Energizer Bunny of Wallace-Gregg Elementary and a breath of fresh air in her classroom. She brings an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm to teaching each day, while maintaining high expectations for every student. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that her students are not only learning, but growing and thriving.”
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Emphasizing her belief regarding the foundation of literacy, Dixon said, “I believe the best opportunity to address the challenge of literacy begins in the primary grades. Students become stronger readers by reading every day, engaging in books that appropriately challenge them and engaging in conversations about what they read. A strong literacy foundation is built through intentional instruction, consistent practice, and teachers who believe every child can become a successful reader.”
Dixon also maintained that students learn best through meaningful practices that supplement learning beyond the classroom such as attending live theater, meeting authors and visiting local nursing homes. “Experiences like these encourage students to see themselves not only as learners, but also as contributors to the communities in which they live. These experiences have shown my students that learning is not confined to a classroom. Whether collaborating with their families, performing for an audience, meeting an author or serving others, they discover that learning becomes most meaningful when it connects them to the world around them.”
Principal Woods indicated that Ms. Dixon is also incredibly creative and is not afraid to do whatever it takes to make learning memorable. “She may rap or sing a song to help her students master a challenging concept. She makes learning engaging, joyful, and meaningful. We are truly grateful to have Ms. Dixon as part of the Wallace-Gregg Elementary family. She represents the very best of what it means to be an educator, and we are so proud to celebrate her as our Teacher of the Year.”
Dixon was chosen as school teacher of the year last spring at Wallace-Gregg Elementary. The Florence 1 Schools application process required all school teachers of the year to complete an application packet earlier this school year. Rated by an outside panel of educators, the teachers whose application packets received the highest became the four honor roll teachers. Dixon, along with other Florence 1 Honor Roll Teachers, Robbie Burns, Advantage Academy; Jamie Clark, Briggs Elementary; and Judon Streater, Alfred Rush Academy; all underwent personal interviews with the outside panel.
As the Florence 1 Schools Teacher of the Year, Dixon is eligible to compete for the 2027 State Teacher of the Year by completing the application when the submission window is opened by the South Carolina Department of Education.
