Joey Trail named 2015-16 Horry County Teacher of the Year

Joey Trail couldn’t help his joyful tears while speaking in front of more than 100 of his peers, loved ones and co-workers Tuesday night.

“I’m getting through this, I know we all want to go home,” he said, fighting back tears. “We have testing in the morning.”

Trail was named the 2015-16 Horry County Schools Teacher of the Year at the district’s annual banquet Tuesday at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes.

Trail was one of five finalists honored, along with other teachers of the year from each school.

Trail, an English language arts teacher at Forestbrook Middle School, has been a teacher for three years. When he heard his name called as the district-wide winner, the tears – and hugs – started flowing.

“This means everything,” he said. “The most important award was to be voted Teacher of the Year at my school, but the district award is just surreal.”

Trail earned a bachelor of arts degree in middle levels education at Coastal Carolina University in July 2013 after many years of performing on cruise ships. Though teaching was never part of his original plan, he’s always known the impact educators can make on children.

“Teachers had always been there for me during the low points in my life,” Trail said. “And my mom ... she’s the best and strongest teacher I’ve ever had.”

Drema Dominguez, Trail’s mother, said she was just happy her son made it to the finalists list. When she heard her son’s name called, everything stopped.

“It was like a flashback of all the things he’s been through,” she said. “He did it, but it’s my reward.”

“I get to share this with him. I’m so proud of him,” Dominguez said.

The other four finalists were:

▪ Joshua Cutright, a social studies teacher at Conway High, has been a teacher for seven years (all at Conway High). Cutright said making a connection with students is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching: “I love history, but I’m not a historian exercising my craft through teaching; I’m a teacher exercising my craft through history.”

▪ Martina McKoy, an English teacher at Horry County Schools’ Early College High School, started her teaching career in Red Springs, N.C. She said she strives to understand her students’ struggles in order to improve the teaching profession: “If I ever forget that my students are more than just a robot that creates numbers to heighten my career, then I am weakening the profession.”

▪ Ebony Bethea-Livingston, a science teacher at Loris Middle School, started her career in Gresham, S.C. and won Marion District Seven Teacher of the Year in 2003. Bethea-Livingston said she utilizes technology on a whole new level: “In my classroom the device is not a tool for substitution, but it is an instrument for reinvention.”

▪ Paul Hudacko, a social studies teacher St. James High School, has had twelve years of teaching experience starting in Marion, S.C. He said his ability to create lasting relationships with students is what makes him an outstanding teacher: “It’s not always a grand gesture that develops the relationship; some kids just look forward to a high-five or smile in the hallway.”

Last year’s winner, Kayla Maxell, is also from Forestbrook Middle. Principal April Scott said she’s “blessed” to have two award-winning teachers just a few doors down from her every day.

“I’m so proud of him,” Scott said. “He just loves kids, and you can see that in everything he does.”

Faculty members at each school in the district select their Teacher of the Year, who apply to be one of 10 semi-finalists, who were selected in January. An interview process in February narrowed the field to five finalists, who were observed in their classrooms by a selection committee.

Teacher of the Year entrants submit written applications that cover teacher biographies, their philosophy of teaching, advocacy and evaluation of teaching techniques. Each school selects its Teacher of the Year, and 10 semifinalists are chosen for interviews before the list is narrowed to five finalists.

Each finalist undergoes a series of classroom observations by an evaluation team – made up of teachers, district staff, former teachers of the year and principals – which then determines the winner.

Standing behind the podium Tuesday night, Trail said he’s thankful he finally found what makes him the most happy.

“We all have a calling in our lives, and for many years I chased the wrong calling,” he said.

“I’m home now.”

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 9:28 PM with the headline "Joey Trail named 2015-16 Horry County Teacher of the Year."