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The October 2023 Window World Teacher of the Month is Katie Farmer, a tenth grade biology teacher at Early College High School. Farmer was nominated as Teacher of the Month because of her determination to make lessons fun, educational and a safe working environment.聽

ECHS is part of Horry County Schools and caters to first-generation college students.聽

鈥淥ur kids are the first in their family to go to college and take college classes,鈥� Farmer said.聽

Each school year, graduating students from ECHS will graduate in May with an associates degree and then in June with a high school diploma. ECHS students take classes at Horry Georgetown Technical College.聽

Our kids are willing to work,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 really love it. It鈥檚 so many good opportunities.鈥澛�

ECHS does not accept students that test positive for the gifted and talented program. Students at ECHS start taking college classes on HGTC campus their sophomore year.聽

Farmer has been at ECHS since she began her career in teaching nine years ago.聽

鈥淭his was my first job at 22 and I plan on being here until they push me out in a wheelchair,鈥� she said.

Born and raised in Horry County, Farmer attended Conway schools and currently lives in her childhood home with her husband, baby and dog.

鈥淥ur family has lived in this spot for generations,鈥� she said.聽

All of her surrounding neighbors are her family and extended family.聽

Farmer graduated from College of Charleston with an undergraduate degree in biology and secondary education and received her masters from Coastal Carolina University.聽

鈥淚 come from a family of teachers,鈥� she said.聽

Her aunt was the principal at Conway Elementary School and always instilled the importance of education and reading to her. Farmer鈥檚 father was a science teacher at Conway High School.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 plan on being a teacher.鈥� Farmer said. 鈥淚 really liked science.鈥澛�

Although she comes from a family of teachers, Farmer was set on a career in biology until her junior year of college. During that year, one of her class assignments was to teach a science lesson to students at an after school program. Farmer left the classroom with a heart that was so full she knew teaching was for her, she said.聽

Currently, Farmer teaches three biology classes a day, each with an average of 17 students.聽

鈥淚 think the reason I have been successful teaching biology is because I take complicated topics and make it as simple as possible,鈥� Farmer said.

During her lessons she will create silly ways for students to remember what she is teaching. She鈥檒l do this by creating catchy rhymes, jokes or drawings. If she sees a topic that students are struggling with she will come up with a creative way for them to remember it.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e learning without realizing they鈥檙e learning,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 try to make it as easy as possible.鈥澛�

At this time, students are creating their own claymation stop motion videos showcasing how a cell divides to make more cells. Students are using playdough to create the cells.聽

Farmer said her favorite part of her job is the students and building relationships with them.聽

鈥淚 love them and I hope every student that has entered my classroom knows how much I love them,鈥� she said.

ECHS offers an advisory class every week that is an hour long and focuses on building relationships, having fun and community service. Students at ECHS have to complete 20 hours of community service each school year.聽

Outside of school, Farmer enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

鈥淚 love being at home with my family,鈥� Farmer said.聽

She said this time of year is especially fun because she decorates for the holidays with her mom and sister. Farmer also spends time with a group of girlfriends that have all been friends with each other through different seasons of life.聽

鈥淚鈥檓 really blessed to have a great support system of family and friends,鈥� she said.聽

If there is a teacher in Horry County who you would like to nominate for the Window World Teacher of the Month, visit聽聽to make your nominations.

Students can apply for ECHS during their eighth grade year and interested parents should visit聽聽for deadline information.聽