2018-2019 Teacher of the Year is handed over keys to a 2018 Space Gray Metallic BMW X5 xDrive35i.
02.05.2018
BMW Manufacturing Presents SC Teacher of the Year with 2018 BMW X5.

Spartanburg, S.C. State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced Wednesday night at a privately-funded celebration in Columbia, SC, that Jeff Maxey, a Special Education teacher at Starr Elementary School in Anderson School District 3, was named South Carolina Teacher of the Year. As part of the celebration, BMW Manufacturing, the event’s premier sponsor, handed Maxey the keys to a 2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i. The X5 is Space Gray Metallic in color, has Black Dakota Leather interior and is equipped with the M Sport Package. Maxey will drive the X5 during his year-long sabbatical from the classroom as South Carolina’s public education ambassador.

“I’m excited that special education teachers have been recognized tonight, and I look forward to discussing the ever increasing number of students in the autism spectrum that are coming into all of our classrooms,” Maxey said. “They bring such amazing strengths and gifts with them but they also bring some needs. We need to be tooled for and ready for these students in order for us as teachers to be successful.”

“Jeff Maxey is a wonderful example of the inspiration and dedication of our teachers in South Carolina,” said Sky Foster, Department Manager of Corporate Communications at BMW Manufacturing. “Our teachers do their job tirelessly, and they motivate their students to do their best. BMW is grateful for their commitment and enthusiasm in the classroom.”

Along with the BMW X5, Maxey will receive several gifts including membership to Leadership South Carolina, an award of $25,000 cash from the state Department of Education, attendance to Notre Dame’s prestigious Excellence in Teaching Conference, a set of Michelin tires, a five-night Caribbean cruise courtesy of Bojangles and a celebratory Jostens ring.

“My journey in this next year will take me all over South Carolina in this new BMW to see schools, to see teachers and to celebrate student success,” Maxey said. “I’m so thankful to BMW for making that possible.”

Maxey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Arts in Teaching-Learning and Behavior Disorders from Spalding University. He has been teaching and training public school educators in the United States and North Africa for 15 years. He succeeds Erin Fox, an English teacher and coach at Gaffney High School.

BMW Manufacturing currently produces more than 1,400 vehicles each day. The factory produces the BMW X3, X4, X5 and X6 Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes (and their variants) to 140 global markets. Production of the first-ever BMW X7 begins later this year. The plant has a production capacity of 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 10,000.    

Please Note:

To the extent that historical press releases reference BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC as the manufacturer of certain X model vehicles, the referenced vehicles are manufactured in South Carolina with a combination of U.S. origin and imported parts and components.