COLUMBIA CHAMBER NAMES LOCAL EDUCATORS AS TEACHERS OF THE QUARTER
Winners announced at Chamber April Gather & Grow event and Richland Two School Board Meeting.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Columbia Chamber is pleased to announce Adrienne Gearheart (Blythewood Middle School) and Angel O’Neal (Lower Richland High School) as the Educator Excellence Teacher of the Quarter award winners.
The Educator Excellence Teacher of the Quarter Award, sponsored by Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, recognizes outstanding educators from Richland One and Richland Two school districts. This quarterly award honors teachers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students, innovative teaching methods, and a commitment to community involvement. Each award winner also received $500 from Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union.
"Educators are the heart of our community, and at Palmetto Citizens, we’re proud to honor those who go above and beyond to inspire, empower, and uplift the next generation," said Emilie Lewis, Director of Community Engagement at Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union. "Founded by local teachers, our credit union is deeply rooted in education, and we’re honored to continue that legacy by recognizing outstanding educators like Adrienne Gearheart and Angel O’Neal for the powerful difference they make every day."
Adrienne Gearheart
Adrienne Gearheart began her teaching career in 2011 in Kentucky where she was the president of the Kentucky Education Association Student Program (KEA-SP) at the University of Pikeville. It was in this capacity she organized Read Across America groups for 5 counties and worked with Habitat for Humanity. She received her master's degree at Morehead State University. She has also been the head coach of high school boys and girls track and field teams at Pike County Central High School in Kentucky, assistant drama director for Bardstown Independent High School in Kentucky, and a member of University of Kentucky 4-H Adult Council in Pike County.
Gearheart moved to SC in 2020 where she worked as a 6th and 8th grade ELA teacher, a team lead, and head cheer coach at Kelly Mill Med Pro. She currently teaches 6th grade ELA at Blythewood Middle School and was a finalist for teacher of the year this year.
Angel O’Neal
Angel O’Neal has been a dedicated firefighter for the past 22 years, beginning her career straight out of high school as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Columbia Fire Department, where she still serves today. She spent 13 years as a full-time firefighter at McEntire Joint National Guard Base before transitioning to Lower Richland High School, where she has proudly served as the Chief of Training for the Lower Richland Fire Training Academy for the last 6 years.
O’Neal has earned numerous certifications, including a Bachelor's Degree in Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness, EMT, Fire Instructor III, Fire Inspector III, Fire Officer, HazMat Technician, Fire and Life Safety Educator, Incident Safety Officer, Health and Safety Officer, and various rescue technician certifications.
Beyond her work as a firefighter and instructor, O’Neal is also deeply involved in the community and youth development. She proudly serves as a Boy Scouts of America Advisor and the Youth Advisor for the South Carolina American Quarter Horse Youth Association. She is an active member of the South Carolina Firefighters Association and the South Carolina Emergency Managers Association, working to stay connected with industry trends and advocate for public safety across the state.
Her passion for learning led to a deep desire to teach, and she has had the privilege of training others to succeed in the fire service. What started with just 12 students in the firefighter program has since grown to over 200 students. Today, many of her former students are working as firefighters and police officers across the state.
To nominate an educator for the Educator Excellence Teacher of the Quarter Award or learn more about the Chamber visit www.ColumbiaChamber.com.
About Columbia Chamber
The Columbia Chamber is a private, nonprofit, Partner-driven organization comprised of 1,200 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry and Richland counties. The Columbia Chamber serves as the voice of its Partners and the business community at large on matters of economic, educational, social, cultural and political concern, as well as supports and promotes the success of its Partners through networking, professional development, advocacy, and leadership. The organization has represented the interests of the local business community since 1902.