Jeff Maxey, special education resource teacher at Starr Elementary School in Anderson County and a former Southern Baptist minister, has been named South Carolina Teacher of the Year for 2019.

While serving as minister of senior adults and students at Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Ky., from 1990-2002, he was asked to speak at the funeral of a high school student. Following that service, he was invited to speak to the senior class about coping with loss. From that experience, he says, he was “inspired to become a teacher.”

South Carolina superintendent of education Molly Spearman said, “Jeff exhibits the qualities and characteristics that we want to see in every current and future South Carolina educator. He is so deserving of this honor.”

Anderson County School District 3 superintendent Kathy Hipp stated, “Jeff is an exemplary professional educator who believes that his life calling is to teach. His reputation as an advocate for students, valuable colleague to other educators, and servant-leader in the community makes him the ideal teacher to represent Anderson District 3 and the state of South Carolina as Teacher of the Year.”

His teaching philosophy is tied to his Christian faith. “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them.’ Jesus had a love and compassion for children,” he said. “I have lived in countries that had little regard for children and education. Students with special needs were treated as cursed and discarded by society. My faith says that life is valuable and made in God’s image, so I strive to follow Christ’s example to love, teach and provide a role model to my students daily.”

As Teacher of the Year, Maxey will be the spokesperson for nearly 50,000 public school educators, leader of the State Teacher Forum, and travel the state for various speaking engagements. He sees it as an opportunity, and he looks forward to raising awareness about the number of students on the autism spectrum. “These students have incredible strengths and [gifts] but also present unique challenges,” he said.

During this time of teacher shortages in South Carolina, he wants South Carolina Baptists to consider “how the Lord could use them to make a difference in the life of a child through joining us in the classroom.”

“Like many teachers, I did not go into teaching out of college, but instead found my way here later in life,” he said.

Last year, more than 6,700 teachers in South Carolina left the classroom. This summer, teacher losses are expected to spike as the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive (TERI) program concludes.

Maxey will receive $25,000 and the use of a new BMW for 2019. A parade was sponsored by the Starr-Iva area as the small communities honored his accomplishment.

“I work with a great team of educators at Starr Elementary. I was proud to walk with them in a celebration. This honor, though presented to one teacher, is actually a recognition for all of the amazing teachers and leaders in our District 3 community,” he said.

Maxey is married to Evie, an assistant professor of human resource management at Anderson University. They both are active at Renewal Church in Anderson.