In an elementary classroom at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School, Brandi Attebury blends curiosity, structure, and encouragement into every lesson she teaches. With 16 years in education and six at LLCS, she serves both gifted and talented students in third through fifth grade and those who need extra support in reading. Her work reflects a career shaped by exploration, both in and out of the classroom.
Ms. Attebury’s interest in teaching started early. As a child, she spent hours playing school and building her own neighborhood lending library, fueled by a love of books. Though she first pursued journalism in college, a course in educational psychology shifted her direction. Learning how students think and grow sparked a new sense of purpose and led her to a career in education.
Her teaching path has taken her across the country and beyond. She began teaching second and third grade in San Diego, and later moved to Virginia, where she taught both elementary and middle school English while earning a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Encouraged by a school leader, she added a gifted and talented endorsement through the University of Virginia, which opened the door to teaching at an International Baccalaureate school in Virginia Beach.
Life outside the classroom also shaped her perspective. When her family relocated to Spain for five years, Ms. Attebury stayed connected to education by working as a substitute with the Department of Defense Education Activity. The experience of living abroad added a global lens to her teaching and strengthened her appreciation for diverse learning environments.
After returning to the United States, she joined Lowcountry Leadership Charter School and rediscovered her passion for literacy instruction. During the pandemic, she completed training in the Orton-Gillingham approach, a structured method that helps students build strong reading skills. Today, she balances her time between reading intervention and gifted education, while also designing STEM camps that encourage hands-on learning.
For Ms. Attebury, the most meaningful moments are often the quiet, everyday ones. A student asking to spend extra time in her classroom or the excitement that fills the room during a new project are the moments that stay with her. One standout experience involved a neuroscience lesson where students examined real human and animal brains brought in by a local university team. The level of student engagement and curiosity was something she still remembers.
Her approach to teaching centers on growth through effort. She emphasizes that mistakes are part of learning and encourages students to take academic risks. With gifted learners, she also focuses on humility and the understanding that learning never really ends. Social and emotional development plays a key role in her classroom, where conversations about resilience, perseverance, and confidence are part of the daily routine.
Teaching in a charter school has given Ms. Attebury the flexibility to try new strategies and the opportunity to build lasting relationships. In a K–12 setting, she often sees students grow over many years, creating a strong sense of connection with both students and their families.
Outside of school, she and her husband stay busy with their two children, often planning their next trip and choosing new destinations to explore. That same sense of curiosity and willingness to try something new carries into her classroom, where students are encouraged to think deeply, take risks, and discover their own love of learning.
Thank you, Ms. Attebury, for your dedication to serving the children of South Carolina!
