Jodie Branham was recently selected as Teacher of the Year for Dillon School District Three for 2016-2017.  
She was one of three school level Teachers of the Year vying for the position of District Teacher of the Year.  
This year’s school representatives are as follows:  Latta High School – Jodie P. Branham; Latta Middle School – Elizabeth Carmichael; Latta Elementary School – Beth Minshew
Jodie Branham is a native of Dillon, SC and continues to reside in Dillon. In May of 2004, Mrs. Branham was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in  Dance Performance and in May of 2007 she received a Dance Education K-12 degree. Both degrees are from Winthrop University. Mrs. Branham began her teaching career in Burlington, NC in 2007 and began her career as dance teacher at Latta High School in in the fall on 2011.
“I am extremely honored to be named Teacher of the Year for Dillon District 3 and I am going to diligently work towards my goal of being named South Carolina Teacher of Year. To get this recognition as a Performing Arts teacher, where in many schools arts programs do not exist or have been cut from education, makes the reward extra special.”
Being selected as District Teacher of the Year qualifies Mrs. Branham as a participant in the selection of South Carolina Teacher of the Year.  The South Carolina Teacher of the Year Program is coordinated via the Division of Educator Quality & Leadership and is designed to honor those who are representative of the state’s many exceptional teachers.