Receiving the Presidential Award is a momentous achievement that recognizes the dedication, effort, and love that I pour into each science lesson. With the support of my administration, colleagues, and family, I have strived to ignite a passion for asking questions and investigating solutions in my classroom. This award validates my conviction that when children are active participants in inquiry learning, they have a foundation for future critical thinking and problem-solving skills in life.

Jennifer Hines Donalds, SC | K-6, Science, 2022

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Jennifer Hines encourages students to believe in their investigative abilities as they learn about the world around them. A data-driven, compassionate, and hard-working educator, she has spent 32 years teaching students about the mysteries of science. Jennifer has spent the past two years as an instructional coach at Cherokee Trail Elementary School, where she also worked for over 13 years as a fourth grade science and mathematics teacher. Jennifer previously worked as a curriculum specialist for the Abbeville County Schools, a fifth grade teacher at Long Cane Elementary School, and a special education and fifth grade language arts teacher at Draper Elementary. Jennifer's love of inquiry-based learning led her to collaborate with other professionals across the state to investigate best practices in teaching science through the South Carolina Department of Education. By regularly inviting aspiring educators from local high schools and colleges into her classroom, she believes that her love of teaching science will inspire other aspiring educators to use inquiry-based teaching. A 27-year National Board Middle Childhood Generalist, Jennifer was named the Abbeville County Environmental Educator of the Year in 2016. Jennifer has a B.S. in elementary education and English from Erskine College and an M.Ed. in kindergarten through eighth grade educational leadership from Clemson University. She is certified in early childhood and elementary education, endorsed as a literacy specialist and gifted education teacher, and holds her elementary principal/supervisor license.

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