EASLEY — Upstate teachers Sheila Beasley and Becky Ross met at the Bojangles location in Easley for breakfast and to accept the donations for their schools.

Ross was Anderson One’s teacher of the Year, while Beasley was Pickens County’s Teacher of the Year.

The donations are part of South Carolina Future Minds program, which has partnered with Bojangles restaurants.

Friday was the start of a busy time for Bojangles spokesperson Elizabeth Baker, who has similar presentations scheduled throughout the state in the coming weeks. Bojangles will make similar donations in every school district in the state, Baker said.

“Bojangles is proud to continue its support of education in South Carolina,” said Bojangles President and CEO Randy Kibler. “Partnering with South Carolina Future Minds and the Teacher of the Year program for the second consecutive year gives the opportunity to thank the Palmetto State’s amazing teachers who have such a meaningful impact on the nearly 700,000 students currently enrolled in their public education system.”

The donations are part of Bojangles efforts to donate more than 3,000 books to the media centers throughout the state in honor of each winner of the district Teacher of the Year.

Books donated in honor of Ross and Besley ranged from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s popular Little House on the Prairie series to Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham,” and are comprised of some of the most popular titles for elementary school students.

Ross, who has a master’s degree in education in counseling and guidance services from Clemson, has been a guidance counselor for the past 10 years, following nine years of teaching in the classroom.