Nov'24 teacher

The November 2024 Window World Teacher of the Month is Amanda Barlow, an elementary school teacher at St. Andrew Catholic School.

Amanda Barlow was nominated for Teacher of the Month because she always helps students with their reading and writing. She teaches third and fourth grade reading, writing and English and Language Arts classes.

St. Andrews Catholic School is grades kindergarten through eighth grade and has 215 students and 48 teachers.

Originally from Virginia, Barlow attended Catholic school from kindergarten to eighth grade. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Grand Canyon University.

Barlow has called the Grand Strand home for 11 years now. Her family relocated when her father accepted a job at a local hospital.

Four years ago she started as a preschool teacher at Palmetto Preschool and then took a leap of faith for an elementary school position. She started as a kindergarten instructional assistant before moving to third grade.

This marks her second year in third grade and she also 鈥渢eam teaches,鈥 which means she also teaches fourth grade. Students will stay in the classroom and teachers will move to other grades and classrooms to teach.

鈥淚 love it, it鈥檚 the best,鈥 Barlow said. 鈥淚 have the best team teachers I could work with. They鈥檙e wonderful.鈥

Barlow is the homeroom third grade teacher.

Her favorite activity she teaches is figurative language.

鈥淚 try to make learning as much fun as possible,鈥 she said.

In third grade, the students are starting to analyze the text and encourage them to be creative and use their imagination.

Barlow鈥檚 favorite part of being a teacher is creating relationships with students and building a classroom community within.

鈥淩espect is very important,鈥 she said.

She wants all her students to know she is always there for them.

鈥淎cademics is important but for them knowing we care about them is top priority,鈥 she said.

St. Andrew Catholic School's mission statement is 鈥渆very child is known and loved,鈥 and Barlow makes it a priority to build strong relationships with her students.

Her favorite part of being a teacher at St. Andrew Catholic School are the students.

鈥淭o have students grow and succeed but not only in academics but in their faith,鈥 she said.

She has wanted to become a teacher since kindergarten. At her kindergarten graduation she announced on stage that she wanted to become a teacher.

Her first grade teacher, Mrs. Smith at Sacred Heart Academy in Virginia, was her inspiration to become a teacher.

Mrs. Smith genuinely cared for the students and kept the learning environment positive.

Outside of school, Barlow enjoys DIY鈥檌ng crafts, spending time with her dog and shopping. Her favorite stores to shop at are Marshall鈥檚 and T.J. Maxx. She loves crafting things for her classroom and making tumblers and custom signs. She also coaches girls volleyball and girls basketball.

A fun fact about Barlow is that she is in the Hall of Fame for Athletics in Virginia Beach. Her basketball team won 89 games straight and won four back to back titles.

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

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