Treasurer Loftis Recognizes Dana Watkins of North Central Elementary as Educator of the Month

COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 29, 2026) – South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis has recognized Dana Watkins of Kershaw County School District’s North Central Elementary School as the South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program’s Educator of the Month for October.

"Mrs. Watkins’ journey back to her home district to support and mentor young learners is inspiring,” remarked State Treasurer Loftis. “Her unique background in special education and counseling allows her to meet students right where they are, helping them build the confidence and essential money skills they need to navigate life’s financial choices. I am grateful for her dedication to laying a strong financial foundation for South Carolina’s youth.”

A product of Kershaw County Schools herself, Mrs. Watkins now serves as a resource teacher in the district where her education began. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and Christian counseling, as well as a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Liberty University. Entering the profession through the Program for Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE), she completed a three-year path to become certified in Special Education Emotional Disability. She is now in her fifth year as a special education teacher.

Residing in Camden, Mrs. Watkins is a proud mother of five children and four grandchildren. Her strong family roots to her local community drive her passion to see the next generation thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

“We all need to know how to use money in our lives, and I want to ensure that our children of the future are on a well-prepared path to financial stability,” Watkins said. “Teaching financial literacy helps students understand the process and what they need to know and do when handling money in general. Preparing our youth to handle finances properly is vital for local communities.”

The South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program provides incentives to K-12 teachers who are experts in financial literacy and have a desire to teach professional development workshops to other educators in their schools and districts. Through the program, participating teachers have access to specialized training and financial literacy curriculum resources that better enable them to promote financial literacy education in K-12 schools.

Sponsored by Future Scholar, South Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan, and in partnership with SC Economics, this statewide financial literacy initiative aims to increase teacher support and involvement in incorporating personal finance education into the curriculum.

 About Future Scholar

Future Scholar, South Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan, is administered through the State Treasurer’s Office. For more information, visit FutureScholar.com or follow @SCStateTreasurer on Facebook. Future Scholar is self-supported and does not receive taxpayer funding.