Suzanne Koty
2016 South Carolina Teacher of the Year
Suzanne Koty entered the teaching field as a second career after working as a certified assistant in the field of ophthalmology. Having a Bachelor of Arts degree from Francis Marion University, she then pursued her teaching certificate through PACE, the Program for Alternative Certification.
Suzanne earned a Master of Education degree from American Intercontinental University in 2009 and her National Board Certification in 2011. Her honors include being a three time Top Ten Teacher at Sumter High School (2009, 2010, and 2011), a two time student-voted Influential Teacher (2008, 2009), and a two time Distinguished Reading Teacher (2007, 2008). She teaches English and Theory of Knowledge and is in her eleventh year at Sumter High School. She has taught International Baccalaureate classes for seven years. She received the 2016 NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence and is the 2016 South Carolina Teacher of the Year.
She is also active in a number of professional and community groups. She was the Vice-President of the Sumter Schools Education Association and has twice served as a delegate for the South Carolina Education Association’s annual meeting. She is an inducted member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and a member of the Palmetto State Teacher’s Association (PSTA). Suzanne is the registrar for the Sumter Soccer Club and has been on their Board of Directors for a number of years. In 2013, she presented a bid to the South Carolina Youth Soccer Association and secured a state tournament to be held in Sumter. This event is estimated to have brought in an excess of one million dollars to the community. She is also the founder and President of the Sweet Reads book club which fosters reading among teachers.
Last year, Suzanne was the Vice-Chairperson of the Sumter Teacher Forum which is actively involved in a number of projects including ongoing professional development, a community blood drive, two candidate forums during the election cycle, and community service projects.
Suzanne and her husband, Dow, have lived in Sumter for 18 years. They have raised two children in this community, Mary and Thomas.
The most rewarding part of her career is working with people who love to learn. This includes both her work in helping facilitate learning among teachers and her students. Working with the students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is something she treasures. To work with students who are open to challenging themselves is a privilege she does not take lightly. In this role, she has been able to witness students succeed not just in school but in life.
Suzanne earned a Master of Education degree from American Intercontinental University in 2009 and her National Board Certification in 2011. Her honors include being a three time Top Ten Teacher at Sumter High School (2009, 2010, and 2011), a two time student-voted Influential Teacher (2008, 2009), and a two time Distinguished Reading Teacher (2007, 2008). She teaches English and Theory of Knowledge and is in her eleventh year at Sumter High School. She has taught International Baccalaureate classes for seven years. She received the 2016 NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence and is the 2016 South Carolina Teacher of the Year.
She is also active in a number of professional and community groups. She was the Vice-President of the Sumter Schools Education Association and has twice served as a delegate for the South Carolina Education Association’s annual meeting. She is an inducted member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and a member of the Palmetto State Teacher’s Association (PSTA). Suzanne is the registrar for the Sumter Soccer Club and has been on their Board of Directors for a number of years. In 2013, she presented a bid to the South Carolina Youth Soccer Association and secured a state tournament to be held in Sumter. This event is estimated to have brought in an excess of one million dollars to the community. She is also the founder and President of the Sweet Reads book club which fosters reading among teachers.
Last year, Suzanne was the Vice-Chairperson of the Sumter Teacher Forum which is actively involved in a number of projects including ongoing professional development, a community blood drive, two candidate forums during the election cycle, and community service projects.
Suzanne and her husband, Dow, have lived in Sumter for 18 years. They have raised two children in this community, Mary and Thomas.
The most rewarding part of her career is working with people who love to learn. This includes both her work in helping facilitate learning among teachers and her students. Working with the students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is something she treasures. To work with students who are open to challenging themselves is a privilege she does not take lightly. In this role, she has been able to witness students succeed not just in school but in life.
