The Edgefield County School District celebrated excellence in education at its annual “Morning for Stars” breakfast on Friday, Sept. 12, recognizing teachers and staff across the district and announcing this year’s top honors.
Merriwether Middle School librarian Kristen Taylor was named the district’s 2025–26 Teacher of the Year, while Jillian Mosuch, a former Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle School paraprofessional now serving as a sixth-grade math teacher, was named Support Staff of the Year.
The ceremony was held at Pine Ridge Golf Club, according to a press release from the Edgefield County School District.
Kristen Taylor: Teacher of the Year
Taylor, who has served as Merriwether Middle School’s librarian, said her journey into education was inspired by watching the impact middle school had on her younger brother.
She has since developed programs such as “Battle of the Books and Book Speed Dating,” initiatives that spark a love of reading among students.
“I am completely shocked and grateful,” Taylor said after receiving the award. “This is such a special place to work. Edgefield County is unlike any other school district I’ve been to and being a part of something special like this really does feel like family and it makes me really grateful for the people I work with.”
Taylor said she recognized that any of the teachers in the room with her would have been just as deserving of the received honor.
“I’m just grateful and humbled they believed in me enough to feel like I could represent our school district well,” she said.
She added that her mission revolves around making reading fun and to see children as whole beings, rather than just another number or test score.
“I want every student who thinks they hate reading to know that they really don’t hate reading, we just have to find the right book to make them love it,” she said. “My other passion is to recognize the whole child and love the whole child and have every student who walks through the doors of our building to know they are seen, they are known by name, and they are cared about.”
Merriwether Middle School Principal Mindy Clark praised Taylor’s impact, calling her “a passionate advocate for literacy and learning, whose creative spirit and unwavering commitment have transformed our media center into a vibrant hub of discovery and growth.”
Jillian Mosuch: Support Staff of the Year
Mosuch, who was recognized for her dedication as a paraprofessional at J-E-T Middle, recently transitioned into a teaching role.
Colleagues described her as someone who “has a genuine concern for the future of our students and works to consistently support our students so our young people have the opportunity to learn and grow daily and to pursue their dreams,” according to a press release from the Edgefield County School District.
Reflecting on the honor, Mosuch shared her love of working for Edgefield County School District.
“It’s been such an honor to work here. (ECSD) has done a lot for us as a family and for our son as well, at Douglas Elementary School,” she said. “That is really what drew me here, the support we’ve received having an OEC child in this school district. Being able to be a part of this team, with OEC for so many years, now being Support Staff of the Year and being able to now educate students as part of the teaching staff, it has been an honor.”
Other recognitions
The district also honored Debra Williams as Bus Driver of the Year and Lunette Patten, longtime secretary to the Board of Trustees, as District Office Support Staff of the Year.
In her closing remarks, Board Chairperson Blair Massey expressed gratitude to all honorees.
“We consider you as part of our extended family and we are so thankful for each and every one of you. Thank you so much for all you do,” Massey said.
