Berkeley County School District is excited to announce that Meagan Brooks has been selected as the 2026 District Teacher of the Year.
Brooks teaches second grade at Cane Bay Elementary. She has taught for more than eight years.
She was joined by her fellow BCSD school-level Teachers of the Year, BCSD administrators, district officers and Berkeley County elected officials Friday morning during the annual Berkeley Chamber of Commerce's Teacher of the Year Breakfast, sponsored by Santee Cooper and Trident Technical College. The event was held at Trident’s Thornley campus. VIEW PHOTOS
Brooks said she is very grateful to be joining BCSD’s Teacher Forum to continue making a positive difference in the school district.
“It feels amazing to be recognized for all of the hard work and dedication I put in every single day,” she said. “It’s a reflection of me, of our students, and of our school district. I could not be more proud, and I’m at a loss for words right now.”
Upon winning during the celebration, Brooks mentioned in her speech that she was supposed to be an instructional coach this school year instead of a teacher, but getting back into the classroom reignited her spark and her passion for teaching.
“I just love what I do and this was a great reminder of my ‘why’,” she said. “I’m so proud to represent my school and our district and see what these next two years of Teacher Forum look like. I’m just so excited to share the amazing things were doing in our school and in our district with the rest of the community.”
BCSD Superintendent Dr. Anthony S. Dixon said that teachers are a major component in ensuring the district is making a positive difference in the lives of all students.
"When we have teachers that feel supported inside the classroom, and outside the classroom, they're able to facilitate that future that we dare to imagine for our students," he said. "Our teachers in Berkeley County School District are vital to our work every day."
Cane Bay Elementary Principal Marissa Watson previously described Brooks as a teacher who creates a classroom environment where students feel safe, valued, and are inspired to learn. Beyond academics, Brooks fosters strong relationships with her colleagues, as well as her students’ families – something Brooks also touched on during her speech.
“She is just a person that you can count on to keep that positive relationship with colleagues,” Watson said. “She has great relationships with students and parents, and I think that just helps our building morale. I think that she is an amazing educator in terms of providing academic instruction, but the connection is the biggest thing that she does for our students and colleagues.”
Brooks was previously named one of three finalists for the position, alongside Megan Fitzgerald from Devon Forest Elementary and Lily Stanton from Hanahan Elementary.
All of BCSD’s Teachers of the Year were recognized during Friday morning’s program.
