The Fort Mill School District officially launched its preparations for the 2026–2027 academic year Tuesday, announcing its top campus educators and opening the registration portal for thousands of returning students.
The district’s annual reveal of the Teachers and Support Staff of the Year serves as the kickoff for a season of recognition. Each of the district’s 20 schools selected one teacher and one classified staff member to represent their campus, with winners chosen by their professional peers.
Among the high school honorees, Catawba Ridge High School Choral Director Jessie Haynes was recognized for her contributions to the performing arts. Haynes was also recently named a quarterfinalist for the national Grammy Music Educator Award. At the elementary level, Monica Curtin and Sheila Connell swept the honors for Orchard Park Elementary.
“These individuals represent the dedication and excellence that define our district,” said District Level Administrator of the Year Grey Young. “Their impact on our students and the community is immeasurable.”
The campus-level winners will now form the District Teacher and Classified Liaison Committees, providing feedback to administration throughout the next year. A panel will later select five “Honor Roll” finalists from the pool of teachers, with the 2026 District Teacher of the Year scheduled to be crowned this fall.
Simultaneous with the awards, the district opened its online registration portal Monday for all students currently enrolled in Pre-K through 11th grade.
Parents are required to use the FinalForms system to verify residency and medical information. While the registration process began this week, district officials noted that instructional fees for the upcoming year will not be processed through the payment system until May.
The early registration window is a critical metric for the fast-growing district. Administrators use the data to finalize staffing requirements and classroom allocations ahead of the first day of school, which is scheduled for Aug. 3, 2026.
