Russell Booker, Ph.D, CDE
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Russell W. Booker, a Certified Diversity Executive, believes our greatest hope for the future is to inspire and equip our children for meaningful lives of leadership and service. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Education from Wingate University and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Lauded as a values-based leader and a champion for equity and education, Russell retired as Superintendent of Spartanburg County School District Seven after a 28-year career in education during which he garnered a wide range of regional, state, and national distinction. He is a South Carolina Liberty Fellow and a graduate of the Diversity Leaders Initiative through the Riley Institute.
Russell and his wife Sheryl recently founded One Acorn, an agency that helps organizations, individuals, and communities fulfill the potential within through enlightened, authentic, values-based leadership centered on collective impact for equity.
Russell serves as the Chairman for the StriveTogether Board of Directors, as a trustee on the Wingate University Board of Directors, as a board member for Purpose Built Communities and on the S.C. Education Oversight Commission.
In 2013, Russell received the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Humanitarian Award from the Urban League of the Upstate. In 2015, Russell was named the South Carolina Superintendent of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) and was also named Superintendent of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association. He is a past president of SCASA’s Superintendents’ Division. During a surprise announcement in November 2020, Russell received the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring his 28 years of service in education.
Eric Hayler
CI Coach/Trainer
Eric supports SAM’s work with the John T. Wardlaw Institute for Continuous Improvement through training, coaching, workshop facilitation, and in-depth data analysis. He is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with 20 years of Continuous Improvement and Quality experience working at BMW Manufacturing and Amazon. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and holds a PhD in Solid State Inorganic Chemistry. Eric has been Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Mercer University in Macon, GA. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC), the Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Society for Quality (ASQ), as well as a member of the Board of Examiners for the South Carolina Governor’s Quality Award.
Emilee O’Brien
Director of Advocacy
Emilee O’Brien serves Spartanburg Academic Movement and United Way of the Piedmont as the Director of Advocacy. Emilee brings her prior experience in higher education, think tanks, high school teaching, and community advocacy to the role. She will be working to craft a shared policy agenda to advocate for students and their families’ educational attainment, health, and financial mobility at the local and state level.
Originally from Connecticut, Emilee has planted roots in the Upstate region of South Carolina since 2013. A graduate of Furman University, she remained in the Upstate and was an active volunteer with the Julie Valentine Center and local community organizing efforts. Emilee earned a Master’s in Educational Transformation from Georgetown University with a concentration in Advocacy and Policy in 2020.
Carmen Levitt
Director of Administrative Affairs
Carmen Levitt earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Government from the University of South Carolina. While raising three children, Carmen has found time to balance her active support of public education while working part-time in several administrative assistant roles in the government, business, and medical sectors. She has served as the president and treasurer of the PTO, received appointments to School Improvement Councils in several schools, and is a frequent volunteer in the library.
Carmen formerly held office administration positions with nationally known technology and real estate companies, served as deputy clerk of court, and managed business affairs and accreditation for a Spartanburg-based prosthetics company.
Rita Mims
Administrative Assistant
Rita joined the SAM team in 2021, bringing with her a deep passion for education and community service. She earned an Associate’s degree in Medical Administration from Bryant Stratton College in Virginia, where she and her husband Steve were stationed during their twenty years of service in the U.S. Air Force. Upon retirement, the couple and their son returned to their native Upstate where Rita continued her professional career in healthcare as a Clinical Director specializing in optometry and an ophthalmology Technician. She is certified as an Instructor on the Spartanburg Regional Faculty of CPR Instructors and as a Fitness Coach. She served the District 7 Schools for over a decade, most recently as Power School Secretary. Rita is the owner of Breath of Life CPR, Health and Wellness LLC, a business that provides Life Saving training, earning her the Start Me Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2020. She is a 2017 graduate of the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute and volunteers with the Spartanburg County Foundation. Rita has recently returned as a post-secondary student at Spartanburg Community College where she is pursuing an Associates degree with plans to transfer to a four-year institution to earn her a Bachelor’s degree in business. When not at SAM or teaching CPR classes, Rita enjoys time with her family and cherishes her role as Nana Rita.
Lynne Shackleford
Director of Communications
Lynne Shackleford serves as the Director of Communications for the Spartanburg Academic Movement. Lynne has more than 17 years of experience as a journalist and most recently served as the Director of Development and Marketing at a Spartanburg nonprofit organization.
A lifelong resident of the Upstate, Lynne earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She and her husband, Jon, are the proud parents of Clancy (14) and Jaxson (8) and two sweet pups, Bailey and Vinny.
Lynne also serves as a trustee on the Cherokee County School Board and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Jasmine Stewart
Training Associate
Center for Resilient Schools and Communities
jstewart@learnwithsam.org
Jasmine Stewart serves as the Spartanburg Academic Movement’s Training Associate in the Center for Resilient Schools and Communities. Jasmine was born and raised in Columbia, SC. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secondary Education-English from USC Upstate and her M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Columbia College. Jasmine is married to Devin Stewart who works with the City of Spartanburg Parks & Recreation. Devin and Jasmine have been married for seven years and have two children, Devin Jr (5) and Alivia (2).
Jennifer Parker, Ph.D, LPC
Director of Child, Youth & Family Initiatives
Dr. Jennifer Parker leads SAM’s emphasis on child and family health and well-being in its systemic approach to increase economic mobility and educational success for Spartanburg County residents.
Parker served as a psychology professor at USC Upstate and is the Founding Director of the University’s Child Protection Training Center. The Center, created to reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and improve community response to child maltreatment began as one of only four in the nation. Under Parker’s leadership, thousands of professionals serving children and families were trained in multiple strategies to build resilience for those facing the most traumatic life situations.
Parker earned her Ph.D. in Family and Child Development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and graduated from the Harvard University Management and Leadership in Education program. She is a graduate of the Diversity Leaders Initiative at the Riley Institute, Spartanburg Regional Fellows, and a South Carolina ACE Interface Master Trainer. She completed “Faith and Racial Equity” training and is pursuing a “Systemic Racism in Child Welfare” certificate through the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC).
Savannah Ray
Director of Educational Engagement and Partnerships
Savannah is a dually appointed staff member for SAM and the United Way of the Piedmont as Director of Educational Engagement and Partnerships. She is also leading SAM’s Out-Of-School-Time Collaborative and works with SAM’s Faith-based initiatives.
A native of Spartanburg County, Savannah works to broaden active relationships with organizations across the county’s diverse nonprofit, faith, and business sectors, willing to align their actions in support of children across Spartanburg County. Savannah was previously employed with the Girl Scouts of South Carolina - Mountains to Midlands, leading outreach teams. Savannah also volunteers as a youth mentor and works as a cheerleading coach at Furman University.
Savannah earned her Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia and Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies from Furman University.
Vivian Ann Shaver
CI Coach/Trainer
Vivian Ann supports SAM’s work through the John T. Wardlaw Institute for Continuous Improvement (CI) to embed CI practices in schools across Spartanburg County. She earned her Bachelors's degree from Emory & Henry College and a Master’s from the University of Tennessee. Vivian Ann has used Six Sigma CI science in project management for Tyson Foods and Sealed Air Corporation.
Vivian Ann has volunteered on School Improvement Councils and in PTO organizations, a direct impact of her mother’s influence as a 40-year veteran educator.
Vivian Ann also serves as Director of Congregational Care and Community Outreach at Lyman United Methodist Church.
Meghan Smith
Director of College/Career Readiness
Meghan serves in a dual appointment with the Greater Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce. She organizes, facilitates, and manages collaborative action initiatives in support of College and Career Readiness and leads work with the Out-of-School-Time Collaborative.
Meghan earned her Bachelor's degree from Samford University and her Master’s from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Meghan has had experience dealing with the challenges faced by first-generation college students through her work with SC Test Prep, which she co-founded, and through its “Open Doors” program that supported a holistic approach to assisting youth set to become first-generation college students.
Meghan volunteers with the Spartanburg Hispanic Alliance and began her first term on the Spartanburg City Council in January 2020. She led City Council efforts toward the unanimous adoption of the resolution, “Healing, Reconciling, and Unity: A Pathway to a More Equitable Spartanburg” the only such municipal resolution in South Carolina.
Beth Thompson
Director of Collective Impact/Data Manager (she/her)
Beth serves as the Director Collective Impact and Data Manager, a role that allows her to put her expertise as a BMW trained Six Sigma Black Belt to use training partners to apply the process to SAM’s collaborative action efforts. Beth is also building SAM’s data capacity and building SAM’s first public access data dashboard.
Previously Beth served as Executive Director of Union County First Steps and was previously employed with the Upstate Workforce Investment Board, giving her a true understanding of the Cradle-to-Career continuum impacting student success. Beth also has experience in working with other nonprofit organizations in Spartanburg including the Carolina Piedmont Foundation and The Arts Partnership.
Beth earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from USC Upstate. She is a graduate of the Nonprofit Leadership Training Certificate program from the Sisters of Charity Foundation and Columbia College.
Ida Thompson
Director of National Networks and Program Affairs (she/her)
Ida leads SAM's engagement with the nationwide StriveTogether network and supports multiple early childhood initiatives for SAM. Ida was Director of the Spartanburg Regional Child Development Program from 1991 to 2009, where she served as Head Teacher of the Infant and Toddler Program from 1976 to 2009. In 2004, Spartanburg Regional renamed the center the “Ida Thompson Child Development Program” in honor of her work. Ida served as director of the Children’s Services Alliance until it merged with the College Hub to form SAM.
Ida earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southern University, Masters in Education, and Education Specialist Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Converse College. She teaches in the Child Development and Family Studies baccalaureate program at the University of South Carolina Upstate and serves on the board of The Franklin School.
Haiden Lancaster
Communications Assistant
Haiden Lancaster serves Spartanburg Academic Movement as the Communications Assistant Intern. Haiden previously worked as a master’s level intern with SAM and has transitioned into this new role. She brings with her marketing experience from local and international organizations including 1 Million Women, the Hub City Farmers Market, Cleveland Academy of Leadership, and Boys and Girls Club of the Upstate. She will be working to engage the Spartanburg community in SAM’s initiatives through social media, newsletters, and other press releases.
As a product of District 7 and Wofford College, Haiden has remained in Spartanburg to continue her professional career while she completes her Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in trauma treatment through the University of Tennessee.
Sarah Peak
AmeriCorps VISTA
Sarah earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Anthropology and Environmental Studies from Wofford College. She spent many summers working at Camp Gravatt as a Camp Counselor, Assistant Healthcare Supervisor, and Art Director. She has also worked with youth in the Spartanburg community through leading the Chefs Club at Cleveland Academy of Leadership.
While at Wofford, Sarah was involved with the Sustainability Master Planning Committee and served as the Managing Editor for the Old Gold and Black student-led newspaper. Sarah has also conducted research on the benefits of childhood nature experiences and environmental education as well as the effects of food insecurity on children. During her year of service, Sarah will be working with the Out-Of-School-Time Collaborative and supporting SAM’s Summer Melt program.