SWU student is Leaphart Teacher of the Year
Erica Millwood reads to her students.
Erica Millwood, a third-grade teacher and Southern Wesleyan University student, was named Teacher of the Year at Leaphart Elementary School in the Irmo area.
A Gaffney native, Millwood is in her second year of teaching at the school, which is part of Lexington/Richland School District 5. She attends classes at Southern Wesleyan University’s Columbia location.
When seeking to further her professional development, Millwood saw Southern Wesleyan University as a great fit.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I like small settings where you can have more of a personal relationship with people in the classroom. I went to a small college, so I like the setting that Southern Wesleyan offers,” she said. Millwood, who is on track to earn her master of education degree this winter, appreciates how quickly she has been able to go through her degree program, taking classes that meet once a week.
“The way they lay out the courses is great. What you learn, you can actually use in the classroom,” Millwood said. She added that the technology courses are wonderful because they go beyond basic skills and teach advanced skills that are relevant to today’s classrooms filled with computers and smartboards.
Millwood graduated magna cum laude in elementary education from Limestone College in 2006. Millwood and her husband Byron reside in Lexington.