Lexington County School District Three announced Nicole Yaworski as its overall 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year during a special banquet held Tuesday evening, September 16th. The celebration took place in the beautiful lobby of the new Batesburg-Leesville High School competition gymnasium.
Ms. Yaworski, who represents Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School, was chosen from an impressive group of finalists that included:
--Cara Lawhorne, Batesburg-Leesville Primary School’s Teacher of the Year
--Tristan Hall, Batesburg-Leesville Middle School’s Teacher of the Year
--Kaitlin Jones, Batesburg-Leesville High School’s Teacher of the Year
Now in her sixth year of teaching—all of which have been spent in Lexington Three—Ms. Yaworski serves as a Physical Education teacher for third through fifth grade students at Batesburg-Leesville Elementary. She holds a Bachelor of Science in K-12 Physical Education from Lander University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
Ms. Yaworski finds great fulfillment in building strong relationships with her students and cherishes the chance to introduce many of them to team sports for the very first time. Whether she’s cheering them on at a little league game or watching them grow more confident through physical activity, she takes pride in creating an environment where every student feels seen, supported, and included. Inside her PE classroom, Ms. Yaworski fosters a culture where students are encouraged to collaborate, step outside of their comfort zones, and stay active in a judgment-free setting. It’s a space rooted in inclusivity, teamwork, and growth—reflecting the values she brings to her teaching every day.
During the banquet, each finalist was also honored with an array of prizes generously donated by local businesses, organizations, and individuals. Lexington Three is deeply grateful for the overwhelming support of our community. A special thanks goes to:
123 ON MAIN
BLAIR’S BITES
B-L CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
B-L HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CLASS
B-L HIGH SCHOOL WELDING CLASS
DEBBIE TAYLOR DESIGNS
ECONOMY FURNITURE CO.
GROUCHO’S OF B-L
KENNETH SHULER SCHOOLS OF COSMETOLOGY
KINDRED BOUTIQUE
LA CANVAS BOUTIQUE
LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT OFFICE
LEXINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
OSWALD WHOLESALE LUMBER
PEACHES ‘N SUCH
RUSH CLOTHING
RYECORP, LLC
SHEALY’S BBQ
SHEAR PLEASURE SALON
SOUTHERN FOX SWEETS
STEAM ‘N BARREL MERCANTILE
THE NEST BY CREGGER COMPANY
THE SPOTTED BUNNY
THE WOMAN’S SOCIETY OF BATESBURG-LEESVILLE
TRANTERGREY MEDIA
UNIQUE IMAGE SALON
WIZ’S EATERY 2.0
As the district’s overall Teacher of the Year, Ms. Yaworski will receive a $1,000 stipend from the SC General Assembly and will go on to represent Lexington Three in the South Carolina Teacher of the Year program.
