Spartanburg District Five Schools is recognizing four educators who have been named finalists for the 2026–2027 District Teacher of the Year.
Each year, every school across the district selects a Teacher of the Year. These individuals are teachers who exemplify excellence in the classroom, demonstrate a deep commitment to student success and contribute positively to their school communities. From this group, an independent panel reviews applications and selects four finalists to advance in the district-level process.
The 2026–27 Teacher of the Year finalists are (listed alphabetically):
Candace Griffey (4K teacher at Reidville Elementary School)
Lea Elizabeth Harrison (AP and Honors English teacher at Byrnes High School)
Jared Hembree (1st Grade teacher at River Ridge Elementary School)
Tonya Williams (Project Lead the Way teacher at Abner Creek Middle School)
“These educators represent the very best of District Five, and their dedication to students and teaching is evident in the impact they make each day,” the District said. “Their passion, leadership, and commitment to excellence is inspiring, and we are proud to celebrate all of them.”
The finalists will now move forward to the next phase of the selection process, which includes interviews and classroom observations conducted by a separate panel of judges. The District Five Teacher of the Year will be announced later this month.
