Happy National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day!
Today, D7 extends our heartfelt thanks to the remarkable men and women who serve as the backbone of safety in our schools and foster a supportive learning environment for our students. Your unwavering commitment to to ensuring the well-being of students, faculty, and staff does not go unnoticed. We are grateful for your compassion and dedication every single day. Here's to celebrating you and all you do!
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#SchoolResourceOfficerAppreciationDay
#ThankYouOfficers
Spartanburg High School Coach Mark Hodge: Guiding Stars to Shine Brighter!
From Carver Middle to Chapman High School coached under our very own Mark Hodge to the University of South Carolina to the San Francisco 49ers – wide receiver Deebo Samuel will be looking for his first Super Bowl ring on Sunday in Las Vegas in Super Bowl LVIII. This will be Deebo’s second Super Bowl.
With the help of TCL, Deebo sent a special delivery to Coach Hodge to show his appreciation: “From the sidelines to the Super Bowl spotlight, I’m grateful for how Coach Hodge has inspired greatness in me. Thank you for everything, Coach - can’t wait for you to watch me this weekend on your new @tcl_usa 98” TV!”
Beyond the wins and losses, coaches serve as mentors, role models, and champions of potential, leaving indelible marks on the hearts and minds of their players and students, shaping them into the leaders of tomorrow.
We are so proud of Deebo and Coach Hodge – all of us in D7 are bursting with pride, not just as your individual accomplishments but as a reflection of the community support, encouragement and belief in our hometown heroes! A moment like this unites everyone in celebration and serves as inspiration for generations to come!
https://www.facebook.com/100091847952108/videos/644301281095326
#SBLVIII
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#onespartanburg
Spartanburg School District Seven Names Carla Cato as Principal of Drayton Mills Elementary School
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Carla Cato as principal of Drayton Mills Elementary School effective July 1, 2024. Mrs. Cato will succeed Thomas Webster, who has been principal since 2017 and will retire at the end of this school year after serving District Seven for seven years.
A two-time Teacher of the Year for Spartanburg School District 7 and Rock Hill School District 3, Mrs. Cato has been an assistant principal at Drayton Mills Elementary for the last five years. She was instrumental in helping to open Drayton Mills as a new school, developing and maintaining a positive school culture and climate, and fostering community building between two schools as they merged into one. She played a pivotal role in creating a school culture of support for students and families through curriculum initiatives, through focused work from the counseling department, and through collaboration among support staff to assist with student and staff well-being as well as social and emotional learning. Her leadership was also instrumental in helping Drayton Mills make significant academic gains on its SC School Report Card, advancing three levels to “Good” this past year.
Mrs. Cato also led District 7’s elementary level summer school program for the last three years, in which she coordinated curriculum planning and teacher training, and monitored academic growth data for all students across the district’s four summer school sites.
Prior to becoming an administrator, Mrs. Cato was a school counselor for sixteen years, serving at Chapman Elementary and Whitlock Junior High in District 7 as well as at Sunset Park Elementary in Rock Hill District 3 and Hunter Street Elementary in York School District 1. She began her education career as a fourth grade teacher at Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary in York District 1. She holds National Board Certification in School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood and has Gifted and Talented endorsement from Converse College. Active in numerous professional and community organizations, she is particularly proud to be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and to have served as vice president of the Spartanburg chapter of the SC State University Alumni Association.
“Carla Cato is the ideal candidate to lead Drayton Mills Elementary School as its next principal,” said Superintendent Jeff Stevens. “She has been instrumental in guiding our ‘Dalmatian Nation’ to achieve tremendous success over the last five years and is respected, trusted and well-loved by the Drayton Mills community of students, parents, and staff. I am confident Mrs. Cato will carry those relationships forward to provide a seamless transition and build on the momentum she helped establish under the leadership of Principal Thomas Webster.”
“It is with excitement and gratitude that I begin this role as principal of Drayton Mills Elementary School,” said Mrs. Cato. “My mission is to set the foundation for effectuating all student’s full potential to become successful, productive, and global citizens. I am unwavering in my commitment to strive for excellence by continuing to provide positive leadership and encourage professional growth while connecting with our families and community. I place great value on communication and collaboration with our school staff and community stakeholders. Most of all, I love being an advocate for children. The profound relationship-building culture within our school has had a powerful impact on our students and families. I look forward to continuing our momentum toward success!”
Carla Cato holds an undergraduate degree in education from South Carolina State University, a Master of Education in Counseling and Development from Winthrop University, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from South Carolina State University. She is married to Desmond and they have three boys, Justin (25), Jonathan (19), and Joshua (15 - a freshman at Spartanburg High School).
January is National School Board Appreciation Month and we invite our D7 Family to join us in honoring our Trustees! We celebrate the contributions they make to further our district-wide commitment to excellence and to help ensure every student has the resources, opportunities, and support they need to reach their full potential.
Thank you to our District 7 Board of Trustees (pictured from left): Clay Mahaffey (Board Vice Chair), James Jones, Jeff Mason, Hallie Hurst, Sharon Porter (Board Chair), Griffin Lynch, Meg Clayton, Rick Gray, and Vernon Beatty (Board Secretary)
