✨ 7Shines Spotlight on National College Colors Day ✨
“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” – Nora Ephron
This reminder speaks to the promise we see in every student — that each step along the way is preparing them to shine, to lead, and to leave their mark on the world.
On National College Colors Day, our D7 schools lit up with team pride and vibrant spirit, as students and staff came together to celebrate their future dreams. It was a day filled with color, energy, and hope — a glimpse of the bright paths our Vikings are destined to take.
Enjoy these highlights from the celebration, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday, September 2. Wishing you a safe and joyful Labor Day weekend!
#D7CollegeColors #7Shines
Our amazing Kindergarten Teacher Assistants participated in ONCE Training this Thursday—and they were incredible! 💪📚 These dedicated educators are laying the foundation for strong reading skills in our youngest learners, helping them grow and SHINE every day. ✨
What’s even more inspiring? Watching our adults model a love for learning and a commitment to growth. 💛
A huge thank you to our kindergarten students who graciously let them practice—your support makes all the difference! 👏👶📖
D7 PHONE & EMAIL ACCESS IS RESTORED
(Wednesday, August 27 at 12:30 PM)
Service via our internet provider has now been restored, so D7 schools and offices now have access to phones and email. Thank you for your patience as we resume these communications!
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TEMPORARY D7 PHONE & EMAIL OUTAGE
(Wednesday, August 27 at 9:30 AM)
Due to a cut fiber impacting service via our internet provider, D7 schools and offices are temporarily without phone and email. If you are attempting to reach us, please know that we will respond as soon as service is restored. An update will be posted as soon as service is restored.
📣 This Friday, District 7 will join the nationwide celebration of College Colors Day! 📣
Show your pride, traditions, and excitement for college life by wearing your favorite college or university gear. Not only does this day fuel enthusiasm for football season, but it also sparks meaningful conversations with our students about college and career aspirations.
As we live out our mission to Inspire and Equip and our theme for the year, 7Shines, College Colors Day is the perfect chance to highlight the promise of higher education and brighten our community with school spirit.
📸 Don’t forget to share your College Colors Day moments using #D7CollegeColors so we can spread the joy across the district!
✨ Let’s make this a shining celebration!
#7Shines
College Colors Day on Friday, August 29, 2025. 🎉
This special day is all about showing off the pride, traditions, and excitement of college life by wearing your favorite college or university gear.
We can't wait to see you represent your favorite school! Share your pictures using #D7CollegeColors
Students from all District 7 schools are invited to be part of making this production a spectacular experience! We can’t wait to see our talented performers shine on stage as we bring this magical journey to life.
Auditions will be held this fall - look for information coming soon.
Let’s follow the yellow brick road together!
🎉Join us in welcoming Dr. Stephanye Zimmerman to EP Todd as our new School Counselor!🎉
With over 13 years in education 📚 and the last three as a Director of School Counseling 🎓, Dr. Zimmerman brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and heart ❤️ to our school. She’s passionate about helping students grow academically 🧠, emotionally 💬, and socially 🤝—and she does it all with energy ⚡, creativity 🎨, and a student-first mindset 👏.
Dr. Zimmerman has shared her expertise at state and national conferences 🌎, and now she’s bringing that same drive and dedication to our EP Todd family 💙.
Outside of school, she loves spending time with her husband Deven 💑, catching Marvel movies 🎬🦸♀️, and indulging in a little retail therapy 🛍️. She’s a proud member of the BeyHive 🐝 and the mastermind behind *The Brownie Boutique* 🍫—because yes, she’s changing lives AND baking brownies! 👩🍳💥
We’re SO excited to have you on board, Dr. Zimmerman! Let’s make it an amazing year! 🙌✨
From a vibrant flag processional to honoring our incredible iReady Champions, Support Staff of the Year, Crystal Apple Award winners, and Teachers of the Year — it was a celebration like no other.
We also unveiled this year’s inspiring theme: 7 SHINES ✨
More than just a theme, 7 SHINES reflects the light within every student and the power we have when we shine together. It’s a symbol of hope, growth, and possibility — reminding us that every student has unique gifts and purpose that deserve to be seen, nurtured, and celebrated. In D7, our teachers, staff, and leaders are lighting the way for every child’s success.
One of the morning’s brightest moments was the announcement of our 2025 District Teacher of the Year — Alicia Fulmer, a kindergarten teacher at Pine Street Elementary! Described as calm, focused, and overflowing with compassion, Ms. Fulmer truly represents the heart of D7. Congratulations!
We also proudly celebrated each of our 2025 Teachers of the Year from every school — a group of passionate, dedicated educators making a difference every day.
✨ Crystal Apple Awards were presented to our amazing first-year teachers, with a special shoutout to Naomi Bynum of Drayton Mills, our district-level winner!
👏 And hats off to our 2025 Support Staff Members of the Year, who keep our schools running smoothly and make a lasting impact behind the scenes.
We can’t wait to welcome our students back — the energy is high, the passion is real, and our commitment to helping every child shine has never been stronger.
Please note that all District 7 facilities will be closed until 11 a.m. Wednesday and thank you for your understanding.
Today, we had the honor of hosting our annual New Teacher Luncheon — a tradition that marks the true beginning of a new school year in Spartanburg School District 7. It’s always one of our favorite days, as we welcome the newest members of our D7 family with open arms and full hearts.
Superintendent Jeff Stevens offered a warm and inspiring message, sharing his hopes that each new educator will fall in love with this place — with their students, their schools, and their colleagues. He reminded us that being part of District 7 is about more than joining a team — it’s about becoming part of a legacy.
The “7” in District 7 isn’t just a number. As Mr. Stevens shared, it symbolizes our commitment to Academics, Arts, Activities, and Athletics — the four foundational pillars that shape the D7 experience. Just as importantly, the three spaces within the 7 represent our values of Tradition, Excellence, and Innovation. These are more than words; they are the heartbeat of our district and guide everything we do.
As our new teachers prepare to welcome more than 7,000 students into their classrooms next week, we know they are bringing not only their skills and knowledge — but their heart, hope, and energy. They are stepping into a role that has the power to change lives.
Superintendent Stevens left our new team members with this powerful reminder: while we cannot control every challenge our students face, we can control the energy we bring each day. Our attitude, actions, and effort — three things we can choose — can make all the difference in the life of a child.
To all of our new educators: we are thrilled you’ve chosen to grow your career in District 7. You belong here. We are better because of you. And we can’t wait to see the impact you will have on the students and families of D7.
Welcome home. 💛💙
Get ready to stock up and save! During Tax Free Weekend, you won’t pay state or local sales tax on:
✔️ Clothing & shoes
✔️ Computers & printers
✔️ School supplies
✔️ ...and more!
All retailers participate—including online! This is a great time to grab back-to-school essentials and tech gear at a lower cost.
📆 Mark your calendars and learn more here:
🔗 SC Department of Revenue Tax Free Weekend Info (https://tinyurl.com/taxfreeSCweekend)
We are excited to welcome Mrs. Leslie Pelfrey to the EP Todd family as a Lower Elementary Montessori Teacher Assistant! 🍎📘
Mrs. Pelfrey is a proud mom to three wonderful daughters and a loving grandmother to her adorable grandson 💕👧🏼👧🏽👧🏻👶🏼. She and her husband love the great outdoors and spend most of their free time enjoying life at the lake 🌞⛵🌳.
Before joining us at EP Todd, Mrs. Pelfrey taught at Plain Elementary, where she led the computer lab, teaching typing, robotics, and programming to students in grades K5–5th 💻🤖⌨️. Her background brings a perfect blend of tech-savvy skills and a love for connecting with kids!
Known for her warm personality and outgoing nature, Mrs. Pelfrey says she “never meets a stranger”—and we know she’ll fit right in with our welcoming Todd community 🧡💙.
We’re thrilled to have her join the Montessori team and can’t wait to see the joy, energy, and knowledge she brings to her new adventure at EP Todd! 🌈🐯
Welcome, Mrs. Pelfrey! 🎉
We are so excited to welcome Ms. Erin Fink to our Preschool Department as a Teacher Assistant! 🧒🏽👧🏼🍎
Originally from Wooster, Ohio, Erin has called Spartanburg home since she was just 9 months old! After earning her hair license during her time at Dorman High School 💇♀️🎓, she spent a year and a half in the beauty industry before discovering her passion for working with children.
Since making the switch, Erin has absolutely fallen in love with early childhood education—and we know our youngest Todd Tigers are going to thrive with her kind heart and positive energy guiding them! 💙🧡
Outside of school, Erin is celebrating some exciting personal milestones—she got engaged recently 💍 and is planning to get married in October 2026! She and her fiancé have been together since 2019 💕.
We’re thrilled to have Erin join our team and can’t wait to see the joy and care she brings to our preschool classrooms!
Welcome aboard, Ms. Fink! 🌟🐯🌟
🌟 Welcome to EP Todd School! 🌟
We are excited to welcome Ms. Lanetra Ebron to the EP Todd family as our new Preschool with Disabilities Teacher! 🍎👩🏽🏫
Born in Spartanburg and raised in the D.C. area, Ms. Ebron holds degrees in education from the University of Maryland and Walden University. With over 25 years of experience as a special educator—and having been named Teacher of the Year in District 6 in 2013 🏆—she brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and commitment to her work.
Though she has worked with learners of all ages, Ms. Ebron shares that her heart truly belongs in early childhood education 🧒🏽📚. She loves nurturing curiosity, building strong foundations, and helping each child discover the very best of themselves ✨🌱.
Ms. Ebron is also a proud parent of Branden (27) and Reagan (12) 👦🏽👧🏽—both proud former Todd Tigers! 🐯
When she's not teaching, she enjoys 🌿 gardening, ✂️ crafting, and 🛠️ home improvement projects.
💙🧡 Welcome home, Ms. Ebron—we’re so glad you’re here! 🧡💙
We’re thrilled to welcome Mrs. Kristen Griffin to the E.P. Todd family as one of our new Lower Elementary Montessori Assistants! 🎒✨
Originally from Vermont 🏔️, Mrs. Griffin spent ten years in Alabama before settling in Spartanburg three years ago—where she and her family have loved putting down roots! 🌳
For the past 16 years, she’s worked as a caregiver for the elderly ❤️, a role she found deeply rewarding. Now, she’s excited to bring that same compassion and dedication to the classroom, where she can nurture curiosity, growth, and learning in young children 🍎🌈.
Mrs. Griffin’s husband is a professor at Converse University 🎓, and together they have three wonderful children—Audrey (8th grade), Anastasia (5th grade), and Michael (2nd grade) 👧👧👦. Their family also includes a sweet cat 🐱 who found his forever home with them as a stray kitten.
In her free time, Mrs. Griffin enjoys reading 📖, embroidery 🧵, playing board games 🎲, and heading outdoors for adventures 🚴♀️🌲.
We’re so happy to have Mrs. Griffin join our Montessori team—welcome to EP Todd! 💛🖤
We’re so excited to officially welcome Ms. Emma Horner to our 3rd grade team here at E.P. Todd! 🎉
Born and raised in Laurens, SC 🏡, Ms. Horner earned her undergraduate degree from Mars Hill University, where she also played on the women’s tennis team 🎾. Most recently, she completed her Master of Arts in Teaching (Elementary Education) at Converse University 🎓—a huge accomplishment!
Ms. Horner is no stranger to Todd—she completed her student teaching with us and then served as a long-term substitute last year. During that time, she built strong relationships with students and staff and gained valuable experience that makes her more than ready to start her first official year of teaching! 🍎
She is committed to creating a warm, positive, and supportive classroom where students feel empowered to grow, learn, and thrive 🌟.
Outside of school, you’ll find her traveling to sporting events 🏟️ or getting lost in a good book 📖.
We’re so glad to have Ms. Horner back with us—welcome to the Todd team! 🧡💙
Please join us in giving a big Todd welcome to Mrs. Brittany Raines, one of our new PCD Teacher Assistants! 🌟
Born in Rock Hill and raised in Pacolet, SC, Mrs. Raines is a proud graduate of Broome High School 🏫 (Class of 2010) and earned her Associate Degree in Science from USC Union in 2012 🎓. She’s now working toward her goal of earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education 📚—a true lifelong learner!
Mrs. Raines and her husband, high school sweethearts 💕, have two wonderful children: a 9-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter they are in the process of adopting 👨👩👧👦. Her passion for education grew through her experience as a mom, and she’s excited to begin this new journey with our Todd students ✨.
Outside of work, Mrs. Raines and her family are active in their church ⛪ and enjoy spending time with their 11 chickens 🐔 and other furry friends 🐶🐱.
We’re so happy to have her join the E.P. Todd family—welcome, Mrs. Raines! 💛🖤
