Two SWU graduates earn national boards
There are currently 120 national board certified teachers district-wide.
“Southern Wesleyan University is pleased that two School of Education graduates have achieved this auspicious honor,” said Sandra McLendon, dean of the School of Education. “Morgan and Greg continue to reflect the quality of our programs and our graduates in the School of Education.”
McKenzie, a 2007 Elementary Education graduate, is a first-grade teacher at East End Elementary School in Easley and Fish, a 2003 MED graduate, is a teacher at Easley High School.
McKenzie credits the support and encouragement of her husband, family, friends and colleagues for helping her endure the hours and rigors of completing her certification process.
McKenzie teaches first-grade at East End Elementary School and is daily amazed as she witnesses her students learn lifelong skills for the first time. The influences of her mother, aunts and uncles – all teachers – plus a special teacher she wanted to emulate, led her into teaching.
“My third-grade teacher was amazing,” McKenzie said. “She inspired me to pursue teaching because I wanted to be just like her.”
McKenzie says it's rewarding to see children’s eyes light up when they start to understand how to solve a math problem or when they become confident readers.
“At the beginning of the year, they are very dependent learners and by March they are beginning to become independent learners,” she said.
When she’s not teaching at East End, McKenzie coaches a girls’ track team at Pickens High School, where she is also a graduate.
Fish teaches grades 10-12 in American literature, advanced placement literature and composition, and yearbook at Easley High. He has always been inspired by literature and, when he decided to become a teacher, he wanted to pass that inspiration on to others. Fish admires his tenth-grade teacher as someone who put her heart and soul into her work.
“I love meeting students where they are and learning from their experiences,” Fish said, adding that he has to daily overcome challenges such as technological distractions and shorter attention spans..
“Literature is filled with life lessons, so making my teaching relevant is easy,” said Fish, adding, “’Aha’ moments often occur when I least expect them; that's the beauty of teaching.”
“SWU is a teaching university – I love that,” Fish said. “That in and of itself was preparation for the classroom.”
With its campus in Central, and regional education centers conveniently located across South Carolina, as well as fully online programs for select degrees, Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, visit swu.edu.