Spartanburg District Five Schools is proud to make a pair of leadership changes, and welcome a new face to District administration, following approval from our Board of Trustees.
Heather Lister has been selected as District Five’s very first Chief of Staff, working alongside Superintendent Dr. Randall Gary to guide strategic initiatives for the district and strengthen partnerships in our schools and community.
Lister is no stranger to District Five, as she has proudly served as the Director of Personnel since 2018. Most recently in that role, she has guided District Five through major staff changes as the district prepares to open new schools and change its grade structure in August 2024. Prior to her Personnel role, the veteran administrator was an Assistant Principal at D.R. Hill Middle School in District Five from 2010-2018. While serving as an Assistant Principal, she also coordinated the district’s Induction Program for brand new teachers.
Lister started her career in the classroom, as a 4th grade teacher at Wellford Elementary School. She is a proud Byrnes High School graduate, and earned her Bachelors in Elementary Education from USC-Upstate, along with a Masters of Education in Administration and Supervision from Converse College.
“As I step into this new role in the place I proudly call home, I am excited about what is on the horizon for Spartanburg District Five. I feel so fortunate to contribute to the community I grew up in, and where I’ve spent my entire career. I am excited to work hand in hand with our district’s stakeholders, and to help shape the future of education in a place that holds my heart,” Lister says.
The district will immediately begin a search to fill the Director of Personnel position.
District Five is also thrilled to welcome a new face to our leadership team! Nicky Andrews will be joining the district as the next Coordinator of Training and Teacher Quality. Andrews has a wealth of experience in school leadership, most recently serving as Principal of Greenville Middle Academy in Greenville County. She began her tenure as a Principal at Greenbrier Elementary School, also in Greenville, where she served from 2008-2016. Her outstanding track record, leading both students and staff, earned Andrews the honor of “Greenville County Schools Principal of the Year” in 2015.
Before moving to Greenville, Andrews was a Literacy Coach and middle school ELA teacher in nearby Spartanburg District Six, where her impact in the classroom was recognized when she was named “District Teacher of the Year.”
Andrews earned her Bachelors degree in Education from Winthrop University, along with a Masters in School Leadership from Furman, and an Educational Specialist degree in Administration from the University of South Carolina. “Strong teachers are the backbone of any successful school. As a Principal, one of my favorite parts of the job has been working closely with teachers, and supporting them as they support students,” Andrews says. “I’m eager to continue that work on a larger scale, as I join District Five in this role. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to support not only teachers, but also Principals and schools in their mission to provide high-quality education. Together, we can create an environment where teachers thrive, students succeed, and schools excel.”
Andrews will officially join District Five on July 1.