Darleen Sutton is the 2014 South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Darleen taught 1st Grade at Pickens Elementary School. She is a graduate of both Wingate and Winthrop Universities. Darleen enjoys helping her students learn to read and witness the excitement that is created within them through the power of the written word. Her goal is to teach the whole child and help them develop overall as a productive member of society. She inspires her students by allowing them to be themselves while learning through meaningful experiences within the safe, nurturing environment of her classroom. They have the opportunity to explore, create knowledge, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes. Knowing they can be themselves motivates her students to be risk takers and explore the unknown while creating knowledge and understanding along the way. ​
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Her students inspire her to laugh, to offer hugs freely, to hop up and say “Ta-Da” when she falls down, and to keep a large supply of erasers because everyone makes mistakes sometimes. “First grade is a wonderful grade to teach because the children are very honest and don’t hesitate to tell me when I’m having a bad hair day; they are trusting and believe everything I say as factual! They possess a large degree of innocence because they still see the good in others around them and are willing to celebrate the accomplishments of others,” says Darleen. “I think the world would be a better place if we all took on a first grade perspective!” 

The best part of her job is celebrating the joy of learning each day with her students. She believes there is always something, no matter how small, to celebrate!