Horry teacher Joey Trail named as finalist for S.C. Teacher of the Year

Joey Trail won the hearts of Forestbrook Middle School administration in 2012. Then the hearts of Horry County Schools officials in 2015.

Now, educators at the state level have recognized Trail’s love of students and passion for education.

He was surprised Monday when hundreds of students lined the hallways to congratulate him on being named one of five finalists for S.C. Teacher of the Year. Trail, an English language arts teacher at Forestbrook Middle School, has been a teacher for four years. He won 2015-16 Horry County Teacher of the Year award last April, and as such qualified for the statewide award.

S.C. Education Superintendent Molly Spearman announced Trail’s win over the intercom to a thunderous roar of applause, and Trail had tears in his eyes as he walked down the school’s hallways to embrace Spearman.

He’s the fifth Horry County teacher to ever be nominated for the statewide award.

“If I had known, I would have worn a tie,” Trail said.

Trail said his ability to connect with students – no matter their social status, income level or past – is what makes him an outstanding teacher. Striving to figure out what’s important to a student and then validating those interests is what Trail does best – because it’s what he’s been through before.

Seventh grader Charity Hillegass agrees.

“He can relate to any student, and he doesn’t try to hide his past,” she said. “He uses it and helps students get past their problems.”

As one of five state finalists, Trail will receive $10,000 that he can use at his discretion. He plans to give his mother – a musical minister – the trip of a lifetime to Jerusalem.

“She’s a very spiritual person, and she’s always wanted to go to the Holy Land,” Trail said.

Trail was selected as one of five finalists from 82 district-based Teachers of the Year, and he’s the fifth Horry County teacher to ever make it into the final five. Jennifer Ainsworth, special education teacher at St. James High, scored the state title in 2014.

Trail said he didn’t even think he’d make it as a finalist.

“I only have a bachelor’s degree, no master’s or any fancy degrees,” he said. “So I thought probably not.”

All of Trail’s coworkers and district officials knew he would make it to the final five. April Scott, principal of Forestbrook Middle, said she knew how special Trail is when she hired him. Over his four years teaching English Language Arts to seventh graders, Trail has acted as a “magnet” to students, parents and teachers.

His whole career revolves around bettering the lives of his students and teaching responsibility, self-worth and integrity, she added.

“If I were a betting woman, I’d always bet on Joey Trail,” Scott said.

Trail’s life has been plagued with hardship.

Trail’s family didn’t have running water or guaranteed electricity in their southwestern Virginia home, which was plagued with a history of addiction. 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. His mother had only an eighth grade education until earning her GED at age 50.

When Trail was in first grade, his father – an abusive alcoholic – shot himself. His father survived, but Trail’s childhood was filled with continuous trauma and constant chaos. After high school, Trail earned a full scholarship to Virginia Wesleyan College in 1995 but had to drop out after his freshman year because he could not afford to even wash his clothes - let alone purchase textbooks.

That never stopped Trail from success. He went back to school and considered earning a degree in accounting or business, but finally settled on what he thought was his true calling: teaching.

“This is my passion,” he said. “I knew I was going to be OK, and I’ve found what I love.”

The state teacher of the year will be announced at a banquet in April in Columbia. The winner receives $25,000 cash and a BMW for a year, as well as the chance to serve as a statewide teacher ambassador for a year.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Horry teacher Joey Trail named as finalist for S.C. Teacher of the Year."