GEORGETOWN COUNTY

Elementary educator named Teacher of the Year

By Aliana Ramos - aramos@thesunnews.com

Ms. Frizzle won!

Derenda "Ms. Frizzle" Marshall could not stop jumping for joy after she was named Georgetown County's Teacher of the Year on Thursday night.

Marshall, 45, a science specialist at McDonald Elementary School, models her teaching style after the television program "The Magic School Bus."

The cartoon program features the eccentric teacher Ms. Frizzle who uses a beat-up old bus - that can shrink, float or fly - to take her students on field trips to places like the desert, the ocean and inside the human body to learn about science.

Marshall even wears a variety of Ms. Frizzle outfits to class.

But on Thursday night she wore formal attire and a red rose.

The rose was a gift from her special needs students Thursday morning to wear for good luck during the banquet.

"And, at the bottom of the poem they wrote to me, 'Even if you don't win tonight you are still our teacher of the year,'" Marshall said.

Marshall, a 23-year veteran educator, has been getting lots of support from her school. In her bag she also had a four-leaf clover given to her by a group of students.

"A little bit of me wanted this, but I never expected for it to happen," she said.

"I'm kind of speechless at the moment. I could cry I'm so excited."

Marshall was selected from a pool of five finalists after an intensive interview process that also included in-class observation and a portfolio review.

On a large screen during the banquet, Marshall appeared on-screen with a large white lab coat leading students in a song about habitats.

"From the time I was born I wanted to be a teacher. I've never had a desire to do anything else," she said.

"These kids need everything we can give them. I believe every child can learn."

Her motto for her students is "Scientists ask questions."

As the district's Teacher of the Year, Marshall will go on to compete for the state's teacher of the year honor.

She will also be awarded a laptop computer, money from the school district and other monetary awards from the district's corporate sponsors.

Next year, Marshall will help to lead the district's monthly teacher forums and mentor new teachers.

McDonald Principal Miriam Daniels could not stop smiling after the announcement.

"She's exceptional," Daniels said about Marshall.

"When you step into her class, get ready to strap on your seat belt and go."

"The kids love her. She brings out the best in them. We're so lucky to have her," Daniels said.Contact ALIANA RAMOS at 357-9520.