Berkeley Leader

It started as a sort of side hustle for Heather Wilkerson, but then it morphed into something that allowed her to reach more students.

Wilkerson is a social studies teacher at Hanahan High. Since 2019, in addition to teaching Hanahan High students, Wilkerson has used her spare time to teach online through VirtualSC.

She is not one to brag about herself, but Wilkerson has made a big impact on her students on the virtual platform – and it has not gone unnoticed; she was recently named the South Carolina Virtual Franchise Teacher of the Year.

Wilkerson has taught at Hanahan High since 2005; she started at Timberland in 2002. She is originally from New York, and came down to South Carolina wanting to be a cardiovascular perfusionist, but changed her major during her senior year at the College of Charleston from biology to American History; she later got her Master of Arts in Teaching from The Citadel.

Wilkerson actually comes from a lineage of teachers – every single female in her family (with the exception of a sister) is a teacher, plus every woman in her dad’s family.

She said she loves teaching history, and particularly likes the high school level because of that “aha” moment that any teacher strives to achieve with their students.

“It’s pretty impressive when you see them – it suddenly just clicks,” Wilkerson said.

VirtualSC is a free state-sponsored online program that serves students from sixth to 12th grades, plus Adult Education. Wilkerson said she has a great support staff that helps her teach on the virtual platform, including Jenna Wells, Berkeley County School District’s Coordinator of Virtual Learning, and Teresa Crumley, Virtual Learning Services Support Leader for the Berkeley County Virtual Learning Program.

Wilkerson described Wells and Crumley as very talented people who have helped her out a lot.

“They’re my go-to people whenever I have questions,” Wilkerson said. “They’re awesome.”

Each year, the Department of Virtual Education and VirtualSC recognize outstanding virtual and online teaching within their partner and franchise districts across the state. Teachers working with BCSD's VirtualSC franchise may be nominated as the Berkeley Franchise Teacher of the Year. Nominees are teachers who demonstrate online leadership and mentorship, a firm grasp of virtual pedagogy, and meaningfully impact district programs, Wells said in an e-mail. 

Wilkerson found out during the last week of school back in May that she had been nominated for the South Carolina Virtual Franchise Teacher of the Year award. She was among several nominees whose nominations were reviewed statewide. When teachers returned to school on Aug. 8, Wilkerson was surprised by Wells, Crumley and Hanahan High Principal Tom Gallus with flowers and balloons while being informed that she had officially won.

Wilkerson is very humble about it (“I’m not a bragger”), saying she was very surprised by the honor.

“I know there’s so many other teachers out there, and the fact that it’s at the state level, that’s…a big wow,” she said.

VirtualSC is a self-paced program for users. This year, Wilkerson is teaching human geography, U.S. history and honors U.S. history on the virtual platform. She’s also previously taught world history and law education. She is also teaching U.S. history in class at Hanahan this year – AP and honors.

Wilkerson said she likes the opportunity that virtual learning provides students who might need a different avenue to learn.

Wilkerson said she does not have “set” office hours for her virtual students, and she tries to make herself as available as possible for her students, even if that means staying up late at night to talk to them while they are working.

“I’m their cheerleader – that’s my job,” she said, adding, “I’m here to boost them up, I’m here to help them with any questions they have, I want them to be successful.”

While she has enjoyed teaching online, Wilkerson also loves being a part of Hanahan High, which she described as a retirement school – “you’re going to work here until you retire, because there’s no reason to leave.”

Wilkerson is married to Philip Simmons High Assistant Principal Mike Wilkerson, with whom she has two children; she thanked her family and support staff for their ongoing help and guidance.

 

 

Monica Kreber

kreberm@bcsdschools.net

Original source can be found here.