Colonda Ford-Lee has worked with Clarendon School District 2 for about nine years altogether.
She began her time with the district as a first-grade teacher at Manning Early Childhood Center in January 2004. After a four-year stint in Spartanburg School District 7 as a first-grade teacher after her husband, a minister, was transferred to the upstate, Ford-Lee returned to Clarendon School District 2 and Manning Early Childhood Center.
Last week, her school recognized her as its Teacher of the Year.
"I was in utter disbelief," said Ford-Lee. "I was overwhelmed and excited at the same time when they came and presented the Teacher of the Year award to me. I was excited to have such an honor."
A native of Bennettsville, Ford-Lee has a bachelor's degree in family consumer sciences and a master's degree in early childhood education, both from South Carolina State University.
She said she always wanted to be a teacher.
"My mother was a teacher's aide, and it's always been a dream of mine to become a teacher," she said.
As part of her work in the ministry alongside her husband, the Rev. Antonio Lee, Ford-Lee taught abstinence education for about a year, and that led to a further interest in teaching.
"I just like working with kids," she said. "They all have different personalities and come from different backgrounds. You never know what to expect."
Ford-Lee said she believes that every child can learn.
"They just learn at different times," she said. "The light bulb comes on a different times."
She said it's exciting to see her students react to gained knowledge.
"It's just so rewarding and exciting to see that light bulb come on," she said. "You're excited because the child actually got the concept that you're trying to teach."
Ford-Lee and her husband, pastor of King Emanuel Baptist Church in Lynchburg, had two children, Thomas, 11, and Tyler, 6. She said being a teacher and a pastor's wife are a good fit for her.
"Both jobs are different, but because I'm a people person, it's not so hard for me," she said.
