Chef Aris Wrightson named the 2026–2027 Richland Two District Teacher of the Year
Richland School District Two is announcing that Aris Wrightson, a Culinary Instructor and Career and Technology Education (CTE) Department Director at Richland Northeast High School is the 2026–2027 District Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Dr. Kim D. Moore, alongside members of the Board of Trustees and district leadership, surprised Chef Wrightson with the honor earlier this week.
Now in her 13th year in education, Wrightson plans to use her platform as District Teacher of the Year to champion a district-wide message of student self-worth. She aims to empower students to recognize that their voices, feelings, and dreams hold immense value, urging them to never diminish themselves for the comfort of others and to confidently claim their space in the world.
Dr. Marlon Thomas, principal of Richland Northeast High School praised Chef Wrightson’s comprehensive approach to education. “Chef Wrightson is truly deserving of this honor because she is emotionally intelligent and deeply committed to meeting the needs of the whole child,” said Dr. Thomas. “She has a remarkable ability to make students feel seen, heard, and valued. Her influence extends well beyond the classroom, strengthening our school community through the connections she builds and the joy she brings to our students and staff each day.”
In addition to building strong emotional foundations, Wrightson is focused on equipping her students for a modern workforce. She finds the rapid rise of technology usage, particularly artificial intelligence, a major issue for public education.
"I believe that AI, like any tool, can be used either productively or improperly. As educators, it is our responsibility to guide students in understanding the difference and to model appropriate use. Ignoring or banning technology altogether does not prepare students for the reality of the world they are entering," Wrightson added.
Wrightson brings an elevated level of industry excellence to her classroom. She is a two-time Summa Cum Laude graduate of Johnson & Wales University, earning both an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Food Service Management. During her collegiate career, she was a recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship and a Dean’s List honoree for 12 consecutive trimesters.
As the district’s honoree, Wrightson will now represent Richland Two in the South Carolina Teacher of the Year competition.
Today, the district also proudly recognizes this year’s four other Teacher of the Year finalists: Schantain Ellis Robinson, Windsor Elementary School; Dr. Sharon Fleming, Nelson Elementary School; Emily Johnson (formerly Kladar), Round Top Elementary School; and Ashley Sowell, Polo Road Elementary School.
Watch the exciting reveal below!