LEE COUNTY, S.C. — In Ms. Zenobia Johnson-McKnight's class in Lee Central High School, she makes sure her students know they are loved.
"I am worthy. Today I will learn. I will wonder, ponder, discover, and understand. I will improve me. I envision my future, my future I see," says Ms. Johnson-McKnight's students.
For the past 29 years, Ms. Johnson-McKnight's reputation as an English teacher crosses generations of families, including her own.
"She taught my mom. My mom told me a lot about her before I got here. She said that she's one of the best teachers she ever had," says Jhada Cockfield, a student at Lee Central High School.
"She's been with me my entire life. She's a great teacher. She is always connected. Every time you are in her class she is going to get her 90 minutes worth. She wants to teach for 90 minutes. That's why she's there," says Jimmy Johnson, a student at Lee Central High School.
But Jimmy is more than just Ms. Johnson-McKnight's student. Jimmy's father is one of the reasons Ms. Johnson-McKnight became a teacher.
"I have a brother. Jimmy is my nephew. And his father didn't like school so much. He loved school, then he fell out of love with school," says Ms. Johnson-McKnight. "My brother Jimmy inspired me to become a teacher. Now I get to teach his son. So I'm just really excited."
"She does her job, what she loves. She does it with all her passion and with all her heart," says Jimmy.
Ms. Johnson-McKnight was born in Effingham, South Carolina. Growing up, her siblings knew she was destined to be an educator.
"I just remember my brother in his middle school and high school years transitioning, and it was really tough. He loved school when he was smaller. But then when he got older, he would talk about the teachers not connecting with students. I would go over homework with my younger siblings. So I did not know I was going to be a teacher but they said they knew," says Johnson-McKnight.
She started her career teaching at Lake City High School for four years and another two at alternative school. She then got married and moved to Lee County where her husband grew up.
"He graduated from this county. And he was always bragging and talking about how wonderful the teachers were in the community where he was. And I just fell in love with the people before I even met them," says Johnson-McKnight.
Her message as an educator stays the same every year she teaches.
"I want to be my best me, for my students so they can be their best selves, so that they can have skills that they can have with them for the rest of their lives. They don't have to remember me, but I want them to remember the concepts, the feelings that they had in this class, the memories, the positivity. I want them to love learning for a lifetime," says Johnson-McKnight.
"She's like everything you could ask for from any teacher. She makes sure that she has a bond with you," says Jhada.
If you know a teacher like Ms. Johnson-McKnight who deserves to be recognized for their hard work in the classroom you can nominate them by emailing us at TOW@WLTX.COM. Tell us what that educator is doing every day to go above and beyond in the classroom.