Lexington 2 Teacher Sabrina Williams will find out if she is the state’s Teacher of the Year, soon.

The South Carolina Teacher of the Year Celebration is scheduled for April 20, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. It is the 50th consecutive year of the event.

Williams teaches seventh-and-eighth-grade social studies and humanities at Fulmer Middle School. She is one of five statewide finalists. Sodexo, dining services, will sponsor Williams’s appearance at the Teacher of the Year ceremony.

The celebration brings together leaders of government, business and education to honor the best teachers from the 80-plus South Carolina school districts. At the end of the gala, one teacher will be named the 2017 S.C. Teacher of the Year. Could that be Williams? If it is she will receive $25,000 and the use of a BMW – made in the state- for the next year.

Williams was speeches in early March when she was surprised in class by SC. Education Superintendent with the news she was a finalist.

Williams said she is “thrilled” and it’s an “honor.”Williams has also been named Lexington School District 2 Teacher of the Year and the Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year.

“It’s terrific when businesses show their support for great teachers in our public schools,” said Trip DuBard, executive director of SC Future Minds. “Teachers like Ms. Williams make us grateful for the work of all SC educators.” SC Future Minds oversees the teacher celebration.

The evening begins on April 20, with a public parade of teachers at 6 p.m. into the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center located downtown at 1101 Lincoln Street. The public is invited to cheer on the state’s best teachers as a band leads them to the largest celebration of public education in South Carolina.