When asked to write about her life as a teacher, Holley had this to say: 

“As a student of life, I glean wisdom from the great American poet Loretta Lynn. She said, ‘You’ve got to continue to grow or you get to be like last night’s cornbread—dry and stale.’ By learning with my students I encourage them to think for themselves and to chart their own journeys of discovery. The intellectual freedom this bestows upon the students is powerful as the fear of ‘not knowing’ is replaced with the love of ‘finding out more.’ A life of the mind is usually a life that is complete. I try to live such a life and hope to pass the gifts of exploration and curiosity on to my students. We can preach hard work and devotion to our children, but in the end it is as the famous psychiatrist Karl Menninger once said, ‘What the teacher is, is more important than what the teacher teaches.’

I am employed by the people of Horry County to prepare a citizenry that can face the challenges of the future. I do that by teaching them to think, to analyze, and to fix what is wrong. My former students have cut my hair and changed the oil in my car. They are parents, attorneys, lobbyists, and most importantly, teachers. One of my strongest contributions to our society is in shaping young patriots, students who can analyze the problems facing our nation while revering the gifts of liberty our forefathers bestowed upon us. Alexis de Toqueville said, ‘America is great because America is good.’ We are a nation of people who believe in personal initiative but who also devote ourselves to improving the common good. Familiarity with the complexities of our civil and political societies breeds not contempt but rather respect for a country that improves itself and constantly seeks to form a more perfect union. This belief forms the core of my curricula and is the basis of much of what I teach.

Most of life is about attitude. I live, laugh, and learn a little each day and hope my classroom is a place where intellectualism and inquiry reign. The greatest compliment I ever received did not concern my knowledge of content or my devotion to the latest pedagogy. Rather it came one day when a student said, ‘Mrs. Holley, everyone can tell you love what you do.’ I can think of no greater accolade nor can I imagine any greater life.”

Georgia Holley has 19 years teaching experience, all of which have been in Horry County Schools. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education - Social Studies from The University of South Carolina and is working toward a Master’s Degree.

The four other finalists were: Cindy Dawsey, Burgess Elementary; Danny McPherson, Loris High; Audrea Phillips, Palmetto Bays Elementary; and Todd Scholl, Carolina Forest High.

All of the school level Teachers of the Year and the teachers who earned National Board Certification this past year were also recognized at the ceremony.