Renée Atkinson teaches English to students in grades 10-12 at Aynor High School in the Horry County Schools district. She received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Clemson University in 2002, a Master of Education in secondary English from Francis Marion University in 2004, her National Board Certification in 2009 and an educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University in 2013. Teaching is her calling; while she has held various positions throughout her education career, her heart is in the classroom, where she can directly impact students’ lives every day.

This year, Atkinson has had an opportunity to give and grow her impact serving as South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year. As the state’s ambassador for education, she is visiting Teacher Cadet programs across South Carolina, encouraging high school students to consider education as a career, working with teacher preparation programs statewide, providing support for pre-service teachers in the SC Teaching Fellowship Program, uplifting educators in various roles across the state and providing professional development. She participates in the Leadership SC and the SC Education Policy Fellows Program  alongside business, community, education and government leaders across the state to serve the students of South Carolina.

She considers building positive relationships with students her greatest contribution to education and feels strongly that students must be able to trust her in order to learn. As a result, she works to create a culture of inclusivity and open-mindedness in the classroom, encouraging students to be contributing members of their communities.