Shanon Delaughter was surprised and honored earlier this month when Byrd Elementary School selected her as its first-year teacher of the year.
Then the news got even better: Her daughter, Ashton Johnson, received the same recognition at Warrenville Elementary School. Both were formally introduced at a district-wide ceremony at Jackson Middle School last week.
"This is building our confidence and has made us even closer," Delaughter said.
She earned her degree at USC Aiken, and Johnson graduated from Newberry College a semester apart. When Johnson started kindergarten in Columbia County, Georgia, her mother was working there as a classroom paraprofessional.
"I loved what I did, helping the kids learn," Delaughter said.
She has an older son, Brandon, and from a second marriage, her son, Garrett, 9, who is with her at Byrd. She had long held a dream to teach, and when she enrolled at USCA, "I was willing to work harder. I knew what I wanted in my life."
Johnson started thinking about a teaching career while at Fox Creek High School. Yet her biggest influence was her kindergarten teacher, Paula Johnson (no relation).
"She's retired now, but I still talk to her," Ashton said. "She's always excited to see me."
Starting in the eighth grade, Johnson participated in travel cheerleading, later earning a scholarship to Newberry College. She did break an ankle and then a collarbone, but the scholarship provided her a great education.
Delaughter enjoyed her USCA classmates, bringing a different perspective as a nontraditional student. After graduation, it took Delaughter a while to get a job. Then she was hired in mid-year in 2014 to finish out the term for a kindergarten position. Much to her pleasure, principal Russell Gunter brought her back for a full-time position.
Delaughter enjoyed that first semester, especially with the support of kindergarten teacher Martha Bates.
At the end of the school year, Johnson was hired as a substitute to finish out the semester for three weeks.
Both relished the chance to work together.
But "It was pretty hard," Johnson said, adding with a laugh. "I was eight months pregnant with a bunch of 5-year-olds. But I'm glad I got to do it."
Johnson said she is appreciative of the Warrenville teachers and their friendship her first year.
She has made good friends there, but will move to Clearwater Elementary School in the fall because of enrollment adjustments. Mother and daughter had a fun time at the first-year teacher ceremony - each getting congratulations on-stage from Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt and School Board Chairman Rosemary English.
"To share this as mother and daughter is pretty neat, that our mentors and principals think so highly of us," Delaughter said.
Rob Novit is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard newspaper.