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The Hills-Beaver Creek Education Association honored an H-BC alumnus Friday night as the 2021-22 Teacher of the Year.
Samantha McGaffee graduated from H-BC in 2010 and returned seven years ago as the district’s secondary special education teacher.
Her colleagues have noticed McGaffee’s dedication to her students.
“Miss McGaffee shows genuine care and guidance to her students,” one nomination comment read. “She knows how to balance between challenging and supporting students as they navigate their middle school and high school careers.”
McGaffee grew up in Hills, the daughter of Glenda and Sam McGaffee.
Experiences in leading Bible school classes and babysitting in her middle and high school years ignited her passion for working with children.
Her career choice became more solid when, as a high school senior, she was a teacher’s assistant for two class periods.
“I helped in preschool and first grade,” she said. “It was actually with this year’s graduating seniors, when they were in first grade, ironically.”
McGaffee attended Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
Her focus on special education came as she liked the smaller classroom settings and the chance to work with students for several years.
Her first teaching position was in special education at West Side Elementary School, Marshall, working with third- and fourth-graders. She came to H-BC for the beginning of the 2016-17 school year as the secondary special education teacher.
“As a secondary teacher, you get to be there for them and help them navigate some of the most difficult years of their lives,” she said. “Some of the challenges are they aren’t as easy to please.”
McGaffee admitted she was first drawn to working with elementary-aged students and didn’t see herself teaching students older than third grade.
“Older students are still kids — just bigger bodies,” she said. “They still need patience, grace and help to develop socially, emotionally and academically.”
McGaffee has excelled with her older students, according to her colleagues.
“She and her classroom often are safe havens for students (many of our students stop in for a chat, snack or a moment of support in her room). I’ve heard some students refer to Miss McGaffee as their ‘second mom’ and I’m beyond grateful for our district to have a teacher like her for our students to access as a resource.”
McGaffee said her main goal at the secondary level is to develop positive relationships during the years the students are in her classroom.
“I know that this isn’t always as easy or attainable in the general education setting and is one reason I chose special education,” she said. “Transparency, honest communication and consistency help build this trust and support.”
McGaffee emphasized when working with older students she doesn’t always have a quick solution and has to take a different route as a teacher by letting the student grow and become independent.
“One of my mantras in these situations is: You may not be able to control your circumstances but you can always control your actions and responses,” she said.
McGaffee’s also found that taking an interest in a student’s extra-curricular activity has helped with positive relationship building.
“They notice when you’re there and get so excited to share their passions with you,” McGaffee said. “It is fun to see them excel in other capacities outside of the classroom.”
Scott Harris keeps H-BC ‘hydrated’
As the district sales manager with Chesterman Distributing in Sioux Falls, Scott Harris keeps area grocery stores and events at the Hills-Beaver Creek schools stocked with beverages.
Because of his dedication to H-BC, Harris was selected by the education association as the 2021-22 Friend of Education.
Nomination comments were quick to recognize Harris’ ability to “keep us hydrated.”
“Scott has gone out of his way to help better H-BC schools by providing water, Powerade, etc., to events such as the H-BC spelling bee, G.R.A.D. student council events, sports banquets and more,” one nominee wrote.
Harris and his wife, Heather, live in Hills and have three children. The oldest, Andrew, is a Class of 2022 graduate.
“Andrew was early in elementary school and I got some Powerade for them to give to the students after the event,” he said. “Chesterman Coca-Cola has been a part of H-BC since before I worked for them (20 years) and I hope that I have helped strengthen that partnership.”