Richland One honored outstanding employees and retirees during Celebration 2026, the district’s end-of-the-year employee recognition banquet, which was held May 22 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Jimmy Holliday, a custodian in the district’s Facilities Management department, was recognized as the employee retiring this year with the most years of continuous service to Richland One (44 years). Pictured with him are Richland One Board Chairman Robert Lominack (left) and Richland One Superintendent Dr. Todd Walker.
Outstanding employees and retirees from schools and departments throughout Richland One were honored during Celebration 2026, the district’s end-of-the-year employee recognition banquet. The event was held May 22 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
School-level and department-level Teachers of the Year, Classified Employees of the Year and retiring employees were honored during the program. Attendees enjoyed musical performances by the Richland One Faculty Orchestra and vocalists D’Angilic Diggs, a senior at Columbia High School, and Carla McCray, a senior at A.C. Flora High School.
Alexandria Fogle, a first-grade teacher at Brennen Elementary School, was announced as Richland One’s
2026-2027 Teacher of the Year. She received keys to a new Ford vehicle to drive during her tenure as the district’s Teacher of the Year, courtesy of Dick Smith Ford.
The four other finalists for Richland One Teacher of the Year were: Janett Canlas, a sixth-grade teacher at Alcorn Middle School; Kenyetta Moorer, a sixthgrade teacher at St. Andrews Middle School; Kimberly Williams, an Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) math and reading teacher at John P. Thomas Elementary School; and Calandra Witherspoon, a first-grade teacher at Logan Elementary School.
April Smith, bookkeeper at Annie Burnside Elementary School, was named the 2026- 2027 Richland One Classified Employee of the Year. She received a $1,500 monetary
award from Dick Smith Ford.
The four other finalists for Richland One Classified Employee of the Year were: Jennifer Crider, administrative assistant at Crayton Middle School; Aniyah Hugee, office assistant at C.A. Johnson High School; Jabrie Drakes, campus monitor at Alcorn Middle School; and LaAja Tolliver, administrative assistant at W.G. Sanders Middle School.
Also, during the program, Hyatt Park Elementary School teacher Chenia Benjamin was announced as Richland One’s 2026-2027 Induction Teacher of the Year. Induction teachers are first-year teachers.
Jimmy Holliday, a custodian in the Facilities Management department, was recognized as the employee retiring this year with the most years of continuous service to Richland One (44 years).
