Spartanburg, S.C. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, along with State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, announced Wednesday night that Chanda Jefferson, a Life Sciences teacher at Fairfield Central High School, was named South Carolina Teacher of the Year for 2019 – 2020. As part of the celebration, BMW Manufacturing, the event’s premier sponsor, handed Jefferson the keys to a 2019 BMW X5 xDrive50i. The X5 is Mineral White Metallic in color, has Coffee Vernasca Leather interior and is equipped with the M Sport Package. Jefferson will drive the X5 during her year-long sabbatical from the classroom as South Carolina’s public education ambassador.  
 
“It means the world to me to represent my school district and my students and also have the opportunity to be an ambassador for the 50,000 plus teachers from the great state of South Carolina,” Jefferson said. “I believe there’s magic happening in our classrooms across this state, and I can’t wait to showcase that.” 
 
“An important part of every child’s future begins in the classroom, and we understand the critical role that teachers play in the success of our youth,” said Max Metcalf, Manager of Government and Community Relations at BMW Manufacturing.  “We at BMW are grateful to all the state’s teachers and their commitment in providing a stimulating environment for our children’s education.” 
 
Along with the BMW X5, Jefferson will receive several gifts including membership to Leadership South Carolina, a cash award of $25,000 provided by the SC General Assembly, a set of Michelin tires, a five-night Caribbean cruise courtesy of Bojangles and a celebratory Jostens ring.  
 
“I never thought I would be South Carolina Teacher of the Year,” Jefferson told the media. “I thought I was going to go into the medical field or work in a science lab. I love what I do and I want to make this profession look amazing so we can recruit and retain teachers.”
 
Jefferson earned her Bachelor’s in Biological Science and her Master’s in Teaching Secondary Sciences from the University of South Carolina. She is currently pursuing her M.Ed. from Columbia University and teaches 9th – 12th grade Life Sciences at Fairfield Central High School. She succeeds Jeff Maxey, a Special Education Resource teacher at Starr Elementary School in Anderson School District 3.

BMW Manufacturing currently produces more than 1,400 vehicles each day. The factory produces the BMW X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes (and their variants) to 140 global markets.  The plant has a production capacity of 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 11,000.