Teacher and Classified Employee of the Year
- 2025-2026 Teacher and Employee of the Year
- 2024-2025 Teacher and Employee of the Year
- 2023-2024 Teacher and Employee of the Year
- 2021-2022 Teacher and Employee of the Year
- 2020-2021 Teacher and Employee of the Year
- 2019-2020 Teacher and Employee of the Year
- 2018-2019 Teacher and Employee of the Year
2025-2026 Teacher and Employee of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS to our 2025 Teacher of the Year, Alexandria Wyland!
Here's why her colleagues have selected her for this prestigious award:
"100% pass rate for students in her first year teaching the course (Global average is 54.6).
Cares so much and works so hard to make her content meaningful and interesting for students. All that while working with the marching band.
One day I'll walk in her class and every single student is working silently to produce the best in-class essay they possibly can. The next day, students will be up and moving around and reading with partners -- even the really reluctant readers.
It actually stung a little to see how excited my class was that she would be covering them during testing."
"Lexi is dedicated to her craft and her students. She is an excellent teacher and does everything in her power to make sure her students get everything they need to succeed. She successfully teaches every level of student, not just the highflyers, although her AP pass rates are impressive! In addition, she is the assistant band director, another role where she excels at bringing out the best in Dreher students. Our marching band earned 2nd place at the state level this year! Lastly, Lexi is a real team player. She is always willing to collaborate on instruction, brainstorm solutions to challenges, and share a cup of coffee. If we had a school full of teachers like Lexie Wyland, we couldn't be stopped."
"This teacher constantly spends her time making sure that her students are receiving the best education that she can provide. She gives tirelessly to the band as the assistant director and never stops working. She invited the AP lit students who did well last year to work with the students this year and coordinated to make sure that their hours could be used as service. She loves every child in this school."
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU MS. WYLAND!!!
HUGE Congratulations to Hannah Milton-Hall (now Mrs. Hannah Markowitz), Dreher's Classified Staff Member of the Year!
Here's why her colleagues have selected her for this prestigious award:
Hannah is an unbelievable part of the Dreher community. She is an exceptional individual whose sweet nature, kindness, and joy make a significant impact on everyone around her. Hannah’s unwavering dedication to her work and her colleagues is evident in her constant willingness to lend a helping hand, offer support, and solve problems with a smile, whenever she is asked. Her positive attitude and infectious enthusiasm create a welcoming and collaborative atmosphere, inspiring others, to do their best. Whether assisting with big or small tasks, Hannah’s contributions go above and beyond, and she fosters a workplace culture of warmth, appreciation, and positivity. She is truly deserving of this recognition, and her continued dedication and kindness have made a lasting difference to our school.
2024-2025 Teacher and Employee of the Year
Art teacher Katie Pfrommer was taken by surprise when she was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a "#1 Teacher" balloon, signifying her election as Dreher's "Teacher of the Year."
Mrs. Pfrommer is a very busy teacher. Besides teaching Art I, Art III Honors, Ceramics I, and Photography I, she is the elected Central Region Coordinator for the South Carolina Art Education Association and the sponsor of Dreher's chapter of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS). One of NAHS's most recent projects was decorating pumpkins with students in the special education classes. At the request of Columbia Mayor Rickenmann, NAHS members are currently decorating a 74" trout for Columbia Streams Art. Their creation will be auctioned to raise funds for city projects.
Over the course of nearly two years, students in her art classes painted "frames" on the front hall wall to create a gallery within which student artwork is now hung. She and art teacher Jennifer Gorlewski submitted students' work to this year's State Fair. Mrs. Pfrommer was recognized for having the most winners at the high school level, reflecting the strength of her teaching. She posts artwork of her students on Artsonia, giving many of them the exciting chance to share their art with an online community.
Mrs. Pfrommer truly cares about the well-being of her students, incorporating important social and emotional learning into her lessons. Students and colleagues agree: Katie Pfrommer is just an all-around amazing person and a credit to Dreher High School.
Our most deserving honoree is shown here flanked by Administrative Assistant to the Principal Carolyn Munden-Walker, Assistant Principal Carroll Kelley, Principal Dr. Joe Eberlin, outgoing Teacher of the Year Nicole Mesimer, and Assistant Principal Dr. Carl Georgie.
Adrian Rhett is Dreher's Newest Classified Employee of the Year
Congratulations to Dreher custodian Adrian Rhett, our newly elected Classified Employee of the Year. We are so lucky to have Mr. Rhett as a custodian. He is an asset to the school and we all love him.
He's shown in the top photo with administrators and last year's winner, Quenna Smith. In the bottom photo, he poses with Building Supervisor Teresa Guinyard and principal, Dr. Eberlin.
2023-2024 Teacher and Employee of the Year
Spanish teacher Nicole Mesimer is Dreher's "Teacher of the Year."
When you read what her fellow teachers proclaimed in nominating her for this honor, you can appreciate the choice of Ms. Mesimer as our representative:
"Nicole goes above and beyond for not only her students, but for other teachers' students as well. With a vacancy in the foreign language department, she has stepped up to make sure that all of the students are still receiving instruction. She goes out of her way to attend school functions to support her students and the Dreher community as a whole. She took initiative to schedule a trip to Spain for students last year for an incredible enrichment opportunity (and she somehow kept her sanity amidst the chaos). She always keeps a positive attitude and brightens my day every time I see her."
"Nicole has been paramount in making me feel welcome during my first year at Dreher. I have always felt comfortable with going to her with my concerns, doubts, and questions as I get acclimated to a new school culture."
"She is super engaging with her classes and one of the most hardworking people you will ever meet."
"Ms. Mesimer is an amazing teacher!"
We all agree!
Dreher's Registrar, Quenna Smith, is Dreher's Newest "Classified Employee of the Year"
Congrats to Quenna Smith, 23-24 Classified Employee of the Year! Ms. Smith is our Registrar.
In one photo Ms. Smith is surrounded by just a few of her many admirers
(Dr. Hasinger, Ms. Asouzu, Mr. Kirkley, Mr. Kelley, Ms. Jowers, and Mr. Baxter).
In the other photo Carolyn Munden-Walker replaces Ms. Jowers
to offer her support to our newest Classified Employee of the Year.
2021-2022 Teacher and Employee of the Year
Chryssandra Hires, Supervisor of In-School Suspension extraordinaire and self-styled leader of Dreher's "Top Flight Security Team," has been selected as Dreher's new "Classified Employee of the Year." She keeps order in the hallways and nothing escapes her eagle eyes and ears!
The Olympics may be taking place half a world away, but did you know that we have a two-time Olympian in our midst? You would never know it because she is as humble as she is talented: yes, it’s Chryssandra Hires, our In-School Suspension Supervisor & reigning Employee of the Year! Read the article about her in Team USA Handball.
2020-2021 Teacher and Employee of the Year
Representing the best of Dreher for 2021-2022 are newly announced Classified Employee of the Year, custodian Adrian Rhett and his counterpart as Teacher of the Year, librarian and media specialist Laura Haverkamp. Congratulations to both, selected by their peers.
Ms. Haverkamp was selected as one of five finalists for District Teacher of the Year.
2019-2020 Teacher and Employee of the Year
Congratulations to our 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year at Dreher, Karen Robinson-Grindley, selected by her peers from among a most worthy group of candidates. Ms. Robinson-Grindley is shown inthe photo on the left, along with Principal Jeanne Stiglbauer and 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year, Courtney Holden.
Ms. Robinson-Grindley has been teaching math for seventeen years and arrived at Dreher at the start of the 2013-2014 school year. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica and earned her Masters in Education, Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
At Dreher Ms. Robinson-Grindley has taught Algebra I and II at the College-Prep level, Algebra II Honors, Discrete Math, and Pre-Calculus Honors. She serves as chair of the Math Department.
In her biography for this honor, Ms. Robinson-Grindley stated,
"My greatest contributions and accomplishments will always be about my students’ success. Success comes in different forms and depending on the group that I am teaching, it could possibly be 100% passage rate in Algebra 1CP to a student being able to pass his/her first test or a student having an A in math for the very first time. I have experienced it all. I have long realized that teaching takes more than just my content knowledge, I have to teach students character building and moral values. One of the biggest opportunity I have as a teacher is to inspire students, to accomplish their goals or set goals some may never imagine they would accomplish. Each year as I enter the classroom, I look forward to inspiring students who will represent our future."
Dreher’s newest Classified Employee of the Year, nominated by her peers, is Candace Jacobs. Ms. Jacobs has been a faithful employee of Dreher for twelve years. For the past eight, she has served as an instructional assistant in a self-contained classroom of students with moderate intellectual disabilities. Her lead teacher, Rebecca Smith-Hill, says of Ms. Jacobs: “(she) is like my right hand in my classroom. She does anything I ask of her, cheerfully, and she has incredible rapport with our students.”
At any given time of day, a visitor to Dreher likely would see Ms. Jacobs accompanying her students around the building. She brings them to general education and PE classes, the cafeteria, the Media Center, the nurse’s room and the bus stop. That same visitor likely would overhear Ms. Jacobs conversing with her charges. She speaks to them with kindness, respect, and enthusiasm. She transforms their trips around the school into opportunities to explain, direct, and teach. For example, she helps students care for the flowers and plants in the main office and lobby. Our receptionist, Carol Sharpe, observes this interaction between Ms. Jacobs and her students and remarks, “I have watched her with the students as they make their way around the building and have been how loving she is, as well as patient, in guiding them.”
Ms. Jacobs truly lives her motto, “People will forget what you said and what you did, but never forget how you made them feel.” Ms. Jacobs says of her co-workers and students, “My goal each day…is to leave them feeling important, appreciated and most importantly supported.”
In addition to devoting her time and talents to her students, Ms. Jacobs also manages two businesses “in her spare time” and recently earned her real estate license.
2018-2019 Teacher and Employee of the Year
Karen Robinson-Grindley is Dreher's Newest "Teacher of the Year"
Congratulations to our 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year at Dreher, Karen Robinson-Grindley, selected by her peers from among a most worthy group of candidates. Ms. Robinson-Grindley is shown inthe photo on the left, along with Principal Jeanne Stiglbauer and 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year, Courtney Holden.
Ms. Robinson-Grindley has been teaching math for seventeen years and arrived at Dreher at the start of the 2013-2014 school year. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica and earned her Masters in Education, Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
At Dreher Ms. Robinson-Grindley has taught Algebra I and II at the College-Prep level, Algebra II Honors, Discrete Math, and Pre-Calculus Honors. She serves as chair of the Math Department.
In her biography for this honor, Ms. Robinson-Grindley stated,
"My greatest contributions and accomplishments will always be about my students’ success. Success comes in different forms and depending on the group that I am teaching, it could possibly be 100% passage rate in Algebra 1CP to a student being able to pass his/her first test or a student having an A in math for the very first time. I have experienced it all. I have long realized that teaching takes more than just my content knowledge, I have to teach students character building and moral values. One of the biggest opportunity I have as a teacher is to inspire students, to accomplish their goals or set goals some may never imagine they would accomplish. Each year as I enter the classroom, I look forward to inspiring students who will represent our future."
Candace Jacobs is Dreher's Newest "Classified Employee of the Year"
Dreher’s newest Classified Employee of the Year, nominated by her peers, is Candace Jacobs. Ms. Jacobs has been a faithful employee of Dreher for twelve years. For the past eight, she has served as an instructional assistant in a self-contained classroom of students with moderate intellectual disabilities. Her lead teacher, Rebecca Smith-Hill, says of Ms. Jacobs: “(she) is like my right hand in my classroom. She does anything I ask of her, cheerfully, and she has incredible rapport with our students.”
At any given time of day, a visitor to Dreher likely would see Ms. Jacobs accompanying her students around the building. She brings them to general education and PE classes, the cafeteria, the Media Center, the nurse’s room and the bus stop. That same visitor likely would overhear Ms. Jacobs conversing with her charges. She speaks to them with kindness, respect, and enthusiasm. She transforms their trips around the school into opportunities to explain, direct, and teach. For example, she helps students care for the flowers and plants in the main office and lobby. Our receptionist, Carol Sharpe, observes this interaction between Ms. Jacobs and her students and remarks, “I have watched her with the students as they make their way around the building and have been how loving she is, as well as patient, in guiding them.”
Ms. Jacobs truly lives her motto, “People will forget what you said and what you did, but never forget how you made them feel.” Ms. Jacobs says of her co-workers and students, “My goal each day…is to leave them feeling important, appreciated and most importantly supported.”
In addition to devoting her time and talents to her students, Ms. Jacobs also manages two businesses “in her spare time” and recently earned her real estate license.
Congratulations to Dreher’s deserving “Classified Employee of the Year,” Candace Jacobs.
Courtney Holden is our 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year
In her eight years at Dreher Ms. Holden has taught nearly every math class at nearly every level, from Algebra I to her current assignment as teacher of AP Calculus A/B and B/C. Ms. Holden is a proud 2009 graduate of the Honors College at USC where she graduated with honors in mathematics with a minor in dance. She received her masters degreee in secondary math education from USC a year later. She has taught at Dreher ever since.
In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Ms. Holden is the movement specialist for our marching band which just finished ninth in the state championships, our highest finish ever. She is also the assistant director of the Dreher Dance Company and a co-sponsor of the math team.
For Ms. Holden's complete resume and her thoughts about being a teacher, click here.
Theresa Guinyard is our 2018-2019 Classified Employee of the Year
Ms. Guinyard has been our Building Supervisor for the past two and a half years. She was enthusiastically nominated by her colleagues. Her positive attitude and sense of humor inspire the custodians she supervises. She leads her team by example. Ms. Guinyard is the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at the end of the day. She insures that our facility looks good and runs smoothly. Thank you and congratulations, Ms. Guinyard.