PICKENS COUNTY — The School District of Pickens County (SDPC) recently announced Elizabeth Gunnels, a fifth-grade teacher at Liberty Elementary School, has been named the 2025–2026 District Teacher of the Year and April Heard, Administrative Assistant for SDPC’s Transportation Department, has been named the 2025–2026 District Support Employee of the Year.

Gunnels and Heard were selected from among all who were honored at the annual SDPC Support Employee and Teacher of the Year Banquet, held on August 19. The banquet celebrates exceptional teachers and support staff across SDPC, recognizing their dedication to student success and their contributions to building strong school communities.

Elizabeth Gunnels

Gunnels has served in education for 11 years and currently teaches Reading, English Language Arts, and Social Studies at Liberty Elementary. She is known for creating a classroom that blends rigorous academics with a culture of care and belonging. Her innovative use of “learning ladders” helps students track their progress step-by-step, and her “CELEBRATE button” tradition ensures that every milestone—big or small—is recognized with joy and encouragement.

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that “education is both hard work and heart work.” As she tells her students: “Once a Gunnels kid, always a Gunnels kid. I’m so proud of you.” That phrase is hanging above her classroom door – the last thing her students see before they leave her room. “It’s my promise to every student who enters my classroom: you will always belong, and I will always cheer for you,” said Gunnels.

“Mrs. Gunnels represents the very best of SDPC,” said Superintendent Dr. Danny Merck. “Her ability to combine high expectations with deep care for her students makes a lasting impact. She is a shining example of how great teaching transforms lives.”

Beyond her classroom, Mrs. Gunnels sponsors Liberty Elementary’s Beta Club, mentors new teachers, and plays a key role in school-wide events. “Elizabeth engages parents and families through constant communication and has been a driving force in making Liberty Elementary a welcoming, student-centered school,” said Lowell Haynes, Principal of Liberty Elementary. “She inspires peers, empowers students, and strengthens families and the community.”

Families share similar praise. One parent described her as “that teacher” — the kind whose influence lasts a lifetime — recalling how she supported their daughter through challenges with compassion and encouragement. Another family credited her with helping their son overcome pandemic-related learning gaps and finish elementary school with confidence.

In her Teacher of the Year application, Gunnels identified chronic absenteeism as one of the most urgent challenges facing education today. She believes schools must address root causes by fostering supportive environments, engaging families, and providing proactive interventions. “If families are not getting their basic needs met, then students aren’t going to learn—much less want to learn,” she wrote.

Her willingness to tackle complex issues, while remaining deeply grounded in the relationships she builds with students, reflects the balance of passion and professionalism that earned her this recognition.

District Teacher of the Year Finalists

Alongside Mrs. Gunnels, SDPC recognized three additional outstanding finalists for District Teacher of the Year:

· Lindsey Douglas, Daniel High School

· Cullen Finley, Clemson Elementary

· Shannon Wood, Easley High School

April Heard

Heard has proudly served SDPC since 2008, beginning as a bus driver in Easley before becoming the district’s Activity Bus Supervisor in 2015, and since 2020, serving as Administrative Assistant for Transportation. This progression has given her hands-on experience with every facet of transportation, from driving routes to managing payroll and field trip logistics for the entire district.

In her role, Heard oversees payroll for more than 100 transportation employees, coordinates field trips through the Traversa software, communicates with parents about student safety, and manages critical administrative functions for all four transportation offices. But those who work alongside her say her greatest contributions happen in the moments when she steps beyond her formal job description.

This past spring, when a bus became stuck on a blocked road with students on board, Heard personally drove to the scene, calmed the children, and transported them safely to school, reassuring them that everything would be OK, so their day could continue without disruption.

“She is the voice of calm and professionalism you hear when someone calls out for help on the bus radio,” said Aaron Boyles, Coordinator of Transportation. “April is always willing to go anywhere and do anything to help anyone. She is the glue that holds our transportation system together.”

Her colleagues describe her as approachable, positive, and always dependable. “There’s a running joke that every time I go to her office, she’s on the phone—because she answers every call,” said Monica Cox, Assistant Transportation Coordinator. “Her goal is always to make sure others have what they need to succeed in their roles.”

Even last year’s District Support Employee of the Year, Mou Rangaraju, praised Heard’s character: “April is a true team player who gives her whole heart not only to the Transportation Department but to the entire district. She embodies the core values we strive for in educational support services and exemplifies the highest standards of work ethic.”

District Support Employee of the Year Finalists

Heard was one of four finalists for the award, along with:

· Carolyn Langston, Central Academy of the Arts

· Tara McCollum, Clemson Elementary

· Tim Sheppard, Pickens High School