Gaffney High French teacher Renee McFalls was honored Tuesday as both the school district and Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year.

McFalls was among 18 top local teachers honored by area Wal-Mart stores from Cherokee, Spartanburg and Union County. Each winning teacher will receive $1,000 for their school, a $100 gift card to buy classroom supplies, a Teacher of the Year polo shirt and a certificate.

Wal-Mart announced this year's award recipients Tuesday as part of National Teachers Day. One teacher is selected as a "local winner" by each Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Neighborhood Market and Wal-Mart Distribution Center nationwide.

McFalls was announced as the Cherokee County School District Teacher of the Year last September. The district recognized McFalls and the other school Teachers of the Year at a reception before Tuesday's school board meeting.

McFalls is in her sixth year at Gaffney High, where she teaches all four levels of French. She has been teaching for 26 years, including for 20 years as an English and French teacher at Granard Middle.

She was selected as the district's Teacher of the Year by a committee which reviewed application packets submitted by teachers. The packets described each nominees' teaching philosophy, career and community involvement.

McFalls has taken students to France the past several summers for 12 to 16 days. The summer trips are available to students who want to improve their French-speaking skills and learn more about the culture.

"I believe that my greatest contributions and achievements have come from my dedication to always giving my students the very best instruction that I have to offer," McFalls said. "Students can tell when you really care about them and they can tell if you enjoy what you do or if you are just going through the motions."

Each district teacher of the year receives $1,000 from the state.

McFalls received $500 from the Cherokee County School District at Tuesday's reception.

She will receive an additional amount from the Gaffney High School Dickens endowment. That amount was $1,000 last school year.

Each School Teacher of the Year received $100 and a plaque from the district. This year's top teachers in the county are: Nancy Lee (Alma

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Elementary); Mary Brenda Wood (B.D. Lee Elementary); Christy Phenicie (Blacksburg Elementary); Ginger Horton (Blacksburg High); Laura Orr (Blacksburg Middle); Bertha Brannon (Blacksburg Primary); Tracy Schultz (Cherokee Technology Center); Patricia Martin (Corinth Elementary); Laura Martin (Draytonville Elementary); Patrick Brown (Ewing Middle); Laura Peeler (Gaffney Middle); Dan Jones (Goucher Elementary); Kimberly McGaha (Granard Middle); Kimberly Dover (Grassy Pond Elementary); Holly Childers (LimestoneCentral Elementary); Jeannie Moss (Luther Vaughan Elementary); Linda Wallace (Mary Bramlett Elementary); and Marilyn Osment (Northwest Elementary.)