Tyger River Elementary School

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Jody Allison! 🐾 Jody will be the Technology Coach at TRE and has been an educator for 24 years. 🐾 She was educated at Limestone University and Southern Wesleyan. 🐾 Her hobbies include reading, walking/jogging, traveling, and playing games with her family. 🐾 Jody’s favorite part about teaching is that every day is different and brings a variety of opportunities to serve students, parents, and teachers.

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Kara Gillespie! 🐾 Kara will be a 4th grade teacher at TRE and has been an educator for 20 years. 🐾 She was educated at the University of South Carolina (Columbia), Converse, and USC Upstate. 🐾 Her hobbies include cooking, the NYT Crossword puzzles, tennis, and watching Carolina Panthers football. 🐾 Kara’s favorite part about teaching is using creativity to solve problems, connecting with children, and continuing to learn each day. 🐾 Her husband is also a teacher and they have two sons, Trad and Aiker, a dog, Amy, and a cat named Ozzie.

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Harriette Mackey! 🐾 Harriette will be a 5th grade teacher at TRE and has been an educator for 37 years. 🐾 She was educated at South Carolina State University and Clemson University. 🐾 Her hobbies include journaling, reading, bicycling, and traveling. 🐾 Harriette's favorite part about teaching is getting to know her students’ interests and hobbies also helping them to grow academically and socially, and to have a positive mindset to believe they can achieve. 🐾 She wants each one of her students to be lifelong lovers of reading.

🐾 Check out the brand new name sign on our school! 🐾 We can't wait to welcome students in just a few weeks!

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Teresa Knepp! 🐾 Teresa will be a 4K teacher at TRE and has been an educator for 31 years. 🐾 She was educated at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. 🐾 Her hobbies include reading, playing pickleball and board games and camping with her family. 🐾 Teresa’s favorite part about teaching is getting to see kids learn to love school.

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Jennifer Cherry! 🐾 Jennifer will be a Special Education teacher at TRE and has been an educator for 25 years. 🐾 She has degrees from Converse College and Lesley University. 🐾 Her hobbies include making all natural home and bath products, baking, gardening, and thrifting. 🐾 Jennifer’s favorite part about teaching is watching her students grow. 🐾 Her daughter will also be a TRE Terrier this year!

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Carmen Duncan! 🐾  Carmen will be a 5th grade teacher at TRE and has been an educator for 22 years. 🐾  She was educated at USC Upstate and her hobbies include running, camping, and drawing. 🐾 Carmen’s favorite part about teaching is the relationships she develops and she is looking forward to meeting all of her students and being a part of the opening of a brand new school.

The Middle Tyger Community Center is providing assistance with school supplies for eligible Spartanburg School District Five Students. If you would like to register your District Five Student, please visit their website at https://www.middletyger.org/supplies.

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Christi Atkins! 🐾 Christi will be a Reading Interventionist at TRE and has been an educator for 27 years. 🐾 She has degrees from both USC Spartanburg and Converse. 🐾 Her hobbies include reading, running, and spending time with her family. 🐾 Christi loves children and loves teaching them to read, but more importantly she loves having the chance to inspire students to grow up to be kind, compassionate adults.

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Shawn Poore! 🐾 Shawn will be a Math Interventionist at TRE and has been an educator for 28 years. 🐾 He has an undergraduate degree from Anderson University and a graduate degree from the University of South Carolina—Upstate. 🐾 His hobbies include reading, watching tennis and college football, writing, traveling, taking long walks, antiquing, and visiting coffee shops. 🐾 Shawn’s favorite part of being an educator is building relationships with students and watching them grow as confident problem solvers!

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Heather Cassidy! 🐾 Heather will be teaching 4th Grade at TRE and has been an educator for 25 years. 🐾 She has degrees from University of South Carolina- Spartanburg, Converse, and Liberty University. Her hobbies include crafting, napping, and clearance shopping. 🐾 Heather’s favorite part about teaching is building community with my students each year and instilling a love of service to others. 🐾 She also loves to celebrate all of the success her students experience from the time they are with her and beyond. No success is ever too small to celebrate! 🐾 Heather is looking forward to meeting our future terriers within the next several weeks!

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Ru-an Williams! Ru-an is the School Counselor at TRE and has been an educator for 23 years. She has degrees from both Xavier University and Clemson University. Her hobbies include watching Kentucky basketball, participating in Zumba and listening to music. Ru-an’s favorite thing about being a school counselor is seeing students using the social emotional skills that she teaches them successfully. She can’t wait to meet everyone and have an awesome school year!

The next staff member that we would like to introduce is Valerie Calsing! Valerie Calsing the Assistant Principal at TRE and has been an educator for 27 years. She has a Bachelors degree from Clemson University, a Masters in Education from Southern Wesleyan University and a Masters in Leadership and Supervision from Anderson University. Her hobbies include hiking, reading, swimming, and traveling. She loves spending time with her family. Valerie is married with three children and also has one grandson. She also has two dogs and is an all around animal lover. Valerie’s favorite thing about being an educator and administrator is the opportunity to work with students, teachers, and parents. Educators can have such a positive influence in the lives of children. She believes there is no greater profession that helps grow other professions.

In order to help with assessments, K4 and K5 will once again have a staggered start to the school year. See dates below. Students with last names beginning A-M will attend school on the following days: Monday, August 12th Tuesday, August 13th Friday, August 16th Students with last names beginning N-Z will attend school on the following days: Wednesday, August 14th Thursday, August 15th Friday, August 16th All K4 and K5 students will attend school on Friday, August 16. All students will attend school on a normal schedule (five consecutive days) the week of August 19th. Please contact the school at (864) 949-2060 if you have any questions.

We're almost one month away from the start of the new school year! Please take a few moments to review this year's school supply list.

Mark your calendars for "Meet the Teacher" at Tyger River Elementary School. You're invited to come to the school on Thursday, August 8 from 12:00-1:30pm or 4:00pm-6:00pm to see our amazing new facility and meet our staff.

We were proud to show off our new campus to our District Five Board of Trustees recently! 🦺👷‍♀️ Principal Shayne Daugherty took board members on a personalized tour, showing off all the design features that make Tyger River Elementary School so special! 🧱🔨🏫 Our school has so many amazing details that students, teachers and families will love ❤️ We can't wait to open our doors in August! 🎉 #WeAreD5

Our team got a chance to represent Tyger River at our District Five teacher recruitment fair this weekend! 🍎📚📝 We’re excited to welcome the future of our Terrier family! 💙💚 #WeAreD5

We're excited to unveil our new logo and mascot for Tyger River Elementary School! 💯 We can't wait to welcome all our new Terriers in August! 💙💚 #WeAreD5