20-05-2025
The Crystal Apple: Stephanie Byrdic-Daniels
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Education is the cornerstone of a society, and as populations and technology become more advanced, teachers often lead the way.
Each month, WBTW and Ultimate California Pizza will recognize an educator for making a difference in their classroom and community. This month's winner is Stephanie Brydic-Daniels.
Stephanie is a Grand Strand native. She grew up in Andrews, South Carolina, and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in psychology. A background in therapeutic counseling gave her the skills necessary to help teens in crisis as a school counselor.
'We are the calm within their storm, and we are trained to be calm when they are not,' she said of her role.
As the lead counselor at Myrtle Beach High School, Stephanie sees firsthand the triumphs and troubles of teenage students. She knows problems at home can follow kids into the classroom, and says teachers are often the first ones to spot the warning signs.
One of the biggest problems she encounters is cyberbullying, coupled with unrealistic expectations that kids often see online.
'The things that students see, the perception they have of other people is not reality,' she said. 'We know that it plays on their mental health, and students don't really see how it's impacting them on a daily basis.'
The veteran counselor has noticed that new rules banning cell phones in class have inspired students to replace social media with social engagement.
'We are seeing more interactions, we're seeing them check out books,' Stephanie said. 'We're seeing them talk to each other more, which I think is improving their mental health because they're making more connections.'
Stephanie said her ultimate goal is to prepare teenagers for the realities of adulthood so they can become contributing members of society.
'We want them to have a positive impact on this world,' she said. 'We see how special each one of them is, and we want the world to see that, too.'
Those are just some of the reasons that Stephanie Byrdic-Daniels is this month's winner of the Crystal Apple Award.
If you would like to recognize a teacher, coach, instructor, or administrator for a Crystal Apple Award, email Aking@ Tell us why you chose them, and please attach a photo.
They winner will be featured on News13 and receive a $100 gift card to Ultimate California Pizza.
* * *
Morning anchor Alexis King is a South Carolina native with 20-plus years of experience in the news industry. She began her on-air career doing the ski report in Aspen, Colorado, and has been a producer, reporter, and anchor in television markets across the country. Most recently, she worked at our sister station in Savannah, Georgia. You can read more of her work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
