Whitmire Community School Teacher Named SCATE Student Teacher of the Year
NEWBERRY, S.C. — Alayna Butler, a 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts teacher at Whitmire Community School, has been named the 2026 Student Teacher of the Year by the South Carolina Association of Teacher Educators (SCATE).
The recognition honors Butler's outstanding work and dedication to the teaching profession during her student teaching experience.
A native of Greenwood, South Carolina, Butler graduated from Ware Shoals High School in 2023, where she participated in the Teacher Cadet program and graduated at the top of her class. She continued her education at Lander University, where she was a member of the university's Teaching Fellows Program.
Butler graduated from Lander University in May 2026 with a bachelor's degree in English for secondary education and began her teaching career at Whitmire Community School.
"Being recognized as the SCATE Student Teacher of the Year is a big accomplishment for me," Butler said. "I have always strived to be the best I can be in all I do. This recognition proves that all the hard work I put in behind the scenes truly paid off when it came to my experience as a student teacher."
Butler credits her student teaching experience with helping her develop the confidence and instructional skills she now brings to her classroom.
"That experience has led me to be confident in the academic choices I make for my students every day," Butler added. "At Whitmire, students are held to high expectations that help students develop into outstanding citizens. I am glad I get to be a part of such a strong community of educators and role models."