Administration

Tamara Black - Principal

Hello Bee Families,

My name is Tamara Black, and I am the new Principal at Spindale Elementary School. I am very excited to fulfill the shoes of Mr. Brandon Hill, who will take on the role of Principal at East Rutherford Middle School. I have spent the last six months serving as Assistant Principal at SES, and in that time, I’ve grown to love SES and the Spindale community. I am ready to take over the reins as Principal.

I’ve spent 12 years in education in several roles, one of which was a school counselor and an assistant principal at R-S Central High School.

In my spare time, you will find me cheering on my son, Eno, who is a sophomore at RSCHS where he plays basketball and soccer. Or reading under an umbrella at the beach. My favorite animal is the Orca, aka killer whale, and my favorite insect is the bees of course!

I look forward to working with our staff, parents, and the community to build up our students and help them become their best versions.

Together We Can Achieve More!

Kristilee Newton - Assistant Principal

I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as Assistant Principal at Spindale Elementary School.

Building lasting relationships with students, families, staff and working with students in need of effective/meaningful interventions are two areas of emphasis for me.

My Administrative experience includes 1 year as Middle School Assistant Principal at Lake Lure Classical Academy and 4 years as an Assistant Principal in Lexington - Richland School District 5. My teaching experience includes teaching at-risk 5K-2nd grade students for 8 years, as well as, teaching 5th grade for 3 years in Lexington School District Two in S.C.

I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Judson College in Marion, Alabama. Additionally, I have a Master's Degree in Special Education and Educational Leadership from the University of South Carolina, as well as, a Masters in Divergent Learning from Columbia College. My licensure areas include K-12 Administration, K-12 Exceptional Children, and Early Childhood and Elementary Education.

My husband and I have 4 children who will also be joining the Spindale Hive! Lee is in 3rd Grade, Hayes is in 2nd Grade, Ford is in 1st Grade and Ruthie is in Kindergarten. We are excited about joining a school family that values the strength of a positive climate and culture, and takes time to build dynamic relationships.