It is too good to be true. How many times have you thought of those words? With each passing day, excitement mixed with a nagging sense of uncertainty. I had worked so hard to reach this point, but as I stood on the brink of my college graduation, I still felt unsure about the future. While my family was incredibly supportive, I wasn’t worried about where I would end up teaching. I was just grateful to be the first person in my family to earn a college degree. I knew how much this moment meant to me and my family, who had sacrificed so much to support me. I would have been thankful for any school that offered me a chance to teach.
But as graduation day approached, my worries shifted. I thought less about the degree I had worked so hard for and more about where I would live. I had never lived on campus during college, always staying with my family in Columbia, South Carolina. But now, as a new graduate, it was time to think about how to support myself—and more importantly, how to support my family stably. The weight of that responsibility began to feel overwhelming, especially with the challenges ahead.
Then things became even more complicated. My aunt, who was also my landlord, had fallen ill and made the difficult decision to sell the home we had lived in for the past fifteen years. I couldn’t fully process it at first. The house that had been our family’s safe haven, where we had made so many memories, was about to be sold. My emotions were torn. Should I celebrate the fact that I was about to graduate with a degree in hand? Or should I comfort my parents as we faced the looming uncertainty of not having a place to call home?
When I thought things couldn’t get worse, an unexpected ray of hope appeared. The day before my graduation, I received a message from my university. At first, I could hardly believe what I was reading. It was an email inviting me to join a unique opportunity for soon-to-be teachers. It was like something out of a dream. The message described a chance to live in a brand-new, two-story home within a special community designed just for teachers—the Village in Winnsboro in Fairfield County. Not only would I live rent-free for a year, but I would also live in a community of educators. It was an opportunity that seemed like it couldn’t possibly be real, but there it was.
The offer was exclusive to graduates from the College of Education beginning their teaching careers in Fall 2024. With my family facing a housing crisis, I couldn’t help but wonder, could this teacher village be real? Could this be the answer to the challenges we were facing? Was this too good to be true? The idea of living in a community of educators—people who truly understood the work and its challenges—felt almost surreal.
After discussing it with my family and now-wife, I decided this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I was going to move to a place I had never been, to a town I didn’t know, to start a career in a field I was passionate about. Though the uncertainty of the move weighed heavily on me, I had a deep sense of trust that this could be the fresh start I needed. I believed in the potential of this opportunity.
Thankfully, my family’s housing crisis was eventually resolved after my graduation. So, upon my arrival in the Village in Winnsboro, that weight of responsibility fell off my shoulders. I was welcomed by a warm, tight-knit community of educators who immediately offered their support. There was a sense of unity in the air, a feeling that we were all together, facing the same challenges, and lifting each other. The teachers and staff in the school district made it clear that they were invested in my success. I felt embraced by the very community I had been introduced to—a sense of belonging I hadn’t expected so soon.
Teaching in Fairfield County has turned out to be an incredibly fulfilling experience. The journey has been challenging as a first-year teacher, but Fairfield County School District has provided me with the tools and support I need to grow and succeed. I have a fantastic reading coach, a dedicated teaching coach, and a mentor who helped me navigate the first few months of teaching. With a student-teacher ratio of just 15:1, I can form meaningful relationships with each student, allowing me to tailor my instruction to meet their needs. The community, especially at the district office, has been welcoming. Everyone knows me by name, even the superintendent. That’s not something I could have ever expected in a larger district.
Being in a rural area, it didn’t take long for me to understand the depth of connection between the schools and the surrounding communities. People genuinely care about one another here. Teaching in Fairfield has given me a greater sense of purpose, knowing I am part of something genuinely making a difference.
Teaching in Fairfield feels like a calling—a daily commitment to shaping young minds and providing them with the tools they need to succeed. I can’t speak for all the teachers in the district, but my school’s culture is deeply rooted in family and a shared passion for education. Many of my students are relatives of other families who have attended this school for generations. Their parents and even their grandparents walked these same halls. It’s a place where education is more than just a job—it’s a legacy passed down through the years.
At my school, we strive for excellence in every way. Fairfield County places a high value on using best practices in education. From implementing structured literacy to incorporating the latest technologies, like artificial intelligence, into the classroom, the district ensures that students and teachers stay ahead of the curve. Accountability is a key part of the culture. We work tirelessly to meet school-wide goals, and our administrators hold us to high standards, ensuring that we are consistently striving for excellence. I feel fortunate to work alongside such dedicated colleagues; their commitment pushes me to give my best every day.
But what truly sets Fairfield apart is the sense of belonging. I moved here as an intern from an urban area, and I’ve experienced the difference firsthand. The most significant change I’ve felt in Fairfield is that I am not just a number here. The district truly values its educators. As a result, they offer one of the state’s highest teacher retention bonuses, reflecting their recognition of the importance of retaining high-quality teachers. Realizing how crucial recruiting and retaining skilled educators is, the district invested in creating a visionary project—a community of educators like no other. After years of planning, the Village in Winnsboro became a reality in Fall 2024. This innovative community symbolizes the district’s commitment to its teachers.
“Home” in the Teacher Village means much more than just a roof over our heads. It’s about the community we’ve built together. Living in a neighborhood of fellow educators is unique, but having the opportunity to share our lives as professionals and friends makes it even more special. We talk about our students, challenges, and victories—but we also make time to relax, have fun, and enjoy each other’s company. Whether walking through the streets, playing games in the neighborhood, or just having casual conversations, the bonds we’ve formed here make the Village feel like a second family.
Living in the Village has deepened my appreciation for my profession in ways I never imagined. Fairfield County’s commitment to investing in its educators shows how much they value us. I wake up every morning grateful for the opportunity to work in such a supportive environment. With fewer financial worries, I can pour all my energy into teaching my students and improving as an educator. The Village in Winnsboro has not only provided me with a place to live—it has given me a sense of purpose, belonging, and pride that has made me even more determined to make a difference in the lives of my students.