Braden Wilson, an 8th-grade social studies teacher at Palmetto Middle School, has been named 2025 South Carolina Teacher of the Year.
The announcement was made at the 2025 South Carolina Teacher Gala held Thursday at the Governor’s Mansion in Columbia.
“Braden’s infectious passion for making history come alive for her eighth graders at Palmetto Middle School is truly inspiring,” said Superintendent Weaver. “We are thrilled to celebrate her dedication to developing the next generation of civic-literate South Carolinians and look forward to the impact Braden will make as South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year serving as an ambassador for our state’s 64,000 educators.”
Wilson is currently in her 10th year working in education. She believes teaching children history provides them with an opportunity to explore what they love while making sense of the world around them. Wilson discovers student interests and cultivates experiences that make history engaging and relatable for every learner, hoping to inspire students to make their own unique mark on history.
Prior to starting her teaching career, Wilson was a Teaching Fellow at Anderson University, where she was the Social Studies Teacher Candidate of the Year. She has a Master’s degree in Teacher Leadership from Walden University, as well as a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Anderson University.
“I am honored and humbled to represent South Carolina educators,” Wilson said. “I don’t think there are really adequate words to express how honored I feel right now and how humbling it is to represent a group as amazing as South Carolina educators.”
“I don’t think that any of the honors or recognitions, however, you would like to refer to it, are mine or because of me or anything I do, but it’s more of a recognition of all of the collaboration that I get to do every day in the halls at Palmetto Middle School, across Anderson District One and now here having met all of you.”
Anderson School District One Superintendent Robbie Binnicker said, “Anderson One is excited and very proud of Braden Wilson on being named South Carolina Teacher of the Year. She is an exceptional teacher who motivates and inspires her students to reach their goals and achieve their full potential every day. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will have on other educators across the state.”
“Wilson has been positively impacting, inspiring, and educating students for roughly a decade. Her passion for history and dedication to her students is evident through her energetic and engaging lessons,” Binnicker said.
As South Carolina Teacher of the Year, Binnicker said, “Wilson will serve as a roving ambassador for one year.”
As part of the state Teacher of the Year awards program, Wilson will receive $25,000, a brand-new BMW for one year, and professional development opportunities.
She will also receive a free graduate degree from University of South Carolina College of Education.
Considered one of the country’s strongest, the South Carolina Teacher of the Year program celebrates excellence and strengthens the teaching force by honoring and recognizing exceptional teachers on a district, state, and national level. These awards not only assist in retention efforts but serve as a powerful recruitment tool.
The South Carolina Teacher of the Year serves for one school year as a roving ambassador providing mentoring, attending speaking engagements, working with teacher cadets and teaching fellows, leading the State Teacher Forum, and serving as the state spokesperson for over 64,000 educators.
Photo – Wilson named SC Teacher of the Year
Braden Wilson, an 8th-grade social studies teacher at Palmetto Middle School in Anderson School District One, has been named 2025 South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Pictured
(l-r): BMW representative Greg Bunner, SC Teacher of the Year Braden Wilson and SC Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver.
