Myrtle Beach educator Sarah Vicini is known throughout the halls of Coastal High School as an enthusiastic, dedicated professional. The high school social studies teacher and instructional coach at CHS incorporates innovative instructional practices that encourage critical thinking and collaboration, and her unique approach to student learning yields results. Over the past few years, Vicini’s U.S. history and government students had a higher overall passing percentage than their peers in the state’s annual benchmark testing.
Vicini’s classes are not just lessons; they are hands-on, engaging experiences for her students. In her law education class, the students set up mock trials of current cases to explore all facets of the U.S. legal system. In her American history classes, students explore the lives of historical figures by actively taking on the roles of various leaders through journaling, performances and case studies. In project-based learning fairs like the school’s “Archerstock,” her psychology students use their creativity to adapt well-known fairy tales, using the updated stories to combat mental health stigmas.
Vicini embraces students’ individual needs and learning styles. She often consults with the school’s special education coordinator to help meet the needs of her students with disabilities. For others needing assistance to reach their benchmarks, she goes the extra mile to identify their unique needs, help them set clear goals, and achieve those goals together.
At the heart of this teacher’s success is her leadership, both within the classroom and amongst her peers. As the school’s Title II coordinator, she ensures that federally funded professional development aligns seamlessly with the school’s needs. She leads staff development sessions, infusing energy, compassion, and positivity into every interaction – a valuable asset to mentoring Coastal High School’s new teachers.
A graduate of Coastal Carolina University, Vicini earned her Bachelor of Arts in education in 2017 and her Master of Education in 2018.
Press release: Myrtle Beach Educator Surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award
