Jessica McManus is the Central High Teacher of the Year (TOY) for 2024-2025 and one of three finalists for the Chesterfield County School District TOY.
McManus has taught ninth through 12th grade agriculture and animal science at Central High for the last six years.
She felt “excited” that her fellow teachers chose her to represent their school as its TOY.
McManus said she teaches by the Future Farmers of America (FFA) motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.
“I believe that students learn better by using their hands and actually doing real world skills,” she remarked.
There are several strategies McManus uses to motivate her students and to prepare them for lifelong skills.
For one thing, she uses a computer program simulation of a beef herd that lets students make breeding selections. Students have to maintain all records for that program.
“We sponsor the four highest Greenhand averages to the State FFA Convention,” she remarked. “We have established the Ag Honor Roll where we display pictures of students with the highest averages each semester.
“Our program sponsors a $500 scholarship to a student choosing to study the field of agriculture,” McManus said. “We also recognize the senior with the highest four-year average with our Excellence in Ag Award.”
She said interest in subject matter covered in class is generated, maintained, and sustained through field trips to local farms and businesses.
Her students also participate in College Career Days, and college speakers come to speak to her to highlight the many opportunities in the field of agriculture.
“We have established our FFA Hall of Fame that displays awards of all our state level winners, State FFA Degree recipients, and all past chapter and State FFA Officers,” McManus said.
She said state officers have their jackets “retired” and on display in shadow boxes at the school.
McManus feels she has a “really good” working relationship with her co-workers. She even considers some of them like family.
She has a bachelor of science degree from Clemson University in animal and veterinary science and a master’s degree from the University of Florida in the same field.
She and her husband, Edward Chad McManus, live in Pageland. She has a son, Waylen Heyward, and a step-son, Edward Chad Jr.
McManus is also a firefighter with the Pageland Fire Department and a member of the Pageland and Jefferson Rescue squads.
