South Carolina H 5707: Jean Gorthy, retirement

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5707 Text of Previous Version (May. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5707

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE JEAN MOREE GORTHY UPON THE OCCASION 
OF HER RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HER FOR HER FORTY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS 
AN EDUCATOR, AND TO WISH HER MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HER FUTURE 
ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, it is with 
great pleasure that the South Carolina House of Representatives honors those 
individuals who give tirelessly of themselves to the welfare of this great state's 
most important legacy, its children. Aiken High School's Jean Moree Gorthy, 
retiring after forty fruitful years as a classroom teacher, stands among their 
number as an outstanding public benefactor, one much admired in her role as 
both educator and leader in her field; and

Whereas, the young Jean 
received her early teacher training at Colorado State University, graduating in 
1986. In further pursuit of excellence, she earned National Board 
certification, and she has continued that certification to the present day; and

Whereas, in the fall of 
1986, an eager first-year teacher, Mrs. Gorthy began her work as an educator 
with an assignment at Summerville Intermediate High School. Later, in 1991, she 
joined the faculty at Aiken High School, where in 2026 she concluded an honored 
public school teaching career of four decades as a culinary teacher; and

Whereas, long 
acknowledged as a master teacher, Jean Gorthy received public recognition of 
that mastery when she was named South Carolina ProStart Teacher of the Year, 
James Maynard Award Winner (National ProStart Teacher of the Year), and Aiken 
High School Teacher of the Year; and

Whereas, over the 
years, she has taught several classes: culinary, home economics, food and 
nutrition, hospitality and tourism, baking, and pastry arts. Additionally, she 
has grown the Aiken High culinary program into one of the best in the county, 
and she is recognized statewide by her peers; and

Whereas, Mrs. Gorthy 
has held numerous leadership roles while at Aiken High, among them junior class 
faculty sponsor, member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 
Evaluation Planning Committee, head of the Aiken High School Career Technology 
Education Department, faculty head of the National Technical Honor Society, and 
Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) school sponsor. As FCCLA 
sponsor, she saw her students qualify for seven FCCLA national competitions. They 
also competed in many South Carolina FCCLA culinary competitions; and

Whereas, thousands of 
student lives have been positively touched and improved by her dedication, 
commitment, knowledge, and love. To honor Jean Gorthy for her many years of 
service, her colleagues will host a retirement celebration in her honor on May 
31, 2026; and

Whereas, having set the 
bar of achievement high in her profession, Jean Gorthy will be remembered with 
affection and gratitude by colleagues, students, parents, and legislative 
friends for years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, congratulate Jean Moree Gorthy upon the occasion of her 
retirement, commend her for her forty years of dedicated service as an 
educator, and wish her much happiness and fulfillment in all her future 
endeavors.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jean Moree Gorthy.

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This web page was last updated on May 14, 2026 at 03:55 PM