Jason Fulmer, who received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from USC Aiken, recently was named the 2003–04 S.C. Teacher of the year.
 Fulmer, who teaches third-grade at Redcliffe Elementary School in Aiken County, will take a year-long sabbatical from the classroom to represent South Carolina’s 47,000 teachers. He also received a $25,000 cash award and a BMW Z4 roadster to use for the year.
"Jason isn’t afraid to experiment," State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum said. "His classroom is a place of discovery where children feel special. They are his ‘stars.’ Every day, he acknowledges their differences but helps them to understand that the world will not be as bright without even one of them."
Fulmer is the sixth male in South Carolina history and the first male in 17 years to be named state teacher of the year. He is the Kiwanis advisor for the Circle K organization he helped organize at USC Aiken. He also has studied at USC Columbia and Winthrop University.
"Learning as I teach is essential," Fulmer said, "for I feel that an active learner is the best teacher. My kids often thank me for teaching them, but deep inside, I thank them for being my teacher. I want to be that teacher who opens students’ minds to ideas not yet imagined.
"We must continue to work hard, stay current with research, and learn all that we can about teaching in order to grow professionally and meet the needs of our students. We must speak out about the positive things that are happening in the classroom and educate anyone who will listen to what problem areas need addressing. When we face obstacles, we must seek to find new abilities and different techniques and never settle for mediocrity."
05/03
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