Meet Our Team

Ginger Hamwright

Director of Admissions

Ginger Hamwright joined Sylvan Learning of Spartanburg in August 2015 and has served throughout the center in a variety of roles. In 2022 she assumed the role of Center Director. The mother of two elementary boys, Ginger understands the education environment and enjoys helping students and families achieve the best in education. Students love Ginger’s engaging personality, and parents enjoy her interactive conference style. Originally from Philadelphia, Ginger received her degree in Social Relations from Cheyney University. When Ginger isn’t at Sylvan, she enjoys singing in her church choir, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Lizz Black

Director of Education

Lizz Black joined the Sylvan team in August 2016. From a family of educators, Lizz developed a love of teaching and formerly taught in Union County. After several years of being an excellent tutor and lead teacher with us, she is now our Director of Education. She will use her wealth of knowledge to oversee the educational integrity of our programs, manage and train our tutors, and meet with parents.  Her hobbies include cross-stitching, archery, cooking, and judging robotics competitions.

Koretta Parker

Asst. Director of Education

Koretta Parker joined the Sylvan team in August 2016. She holds a Masters in the Art of Teaching from USC Upstate and is especially adept at teaching beginning readers. Her patient personality and engaging manner place our youngest students at ease.  Koretta also teaches for the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. In her free time, Koretta enjoys walking her dogs and spending time with family, but she especially enjoys the Low Country boil and oyster roast in Georgetown on the day after Christmas.

Shelly Hughes

Lead Teacher

Shelly Hughes joined the Sylvan team in October 2019. She has over 12 years’ experience in the classroom but now enjoys volunteering and providing foster care. At Sylvan Shelly not only teaches reading and math but also assesses new students. In addition, she manages the learning plans for reading and math, making skill adjustments, as well as recommending teaching strategies and materials to provide the targeted growth that makes Sylvan the leader in the tutoring industry.

Acacia Ritter

Lead Teacher

Acacia Ritter joined the Sylvan team in September 2016. A passionate elementary teacher with a special affinity for math, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, as well as a Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction of math education.  Acacia has spent several years teaching in Title 1 schools but currently teaches 5th grade at High Point Academy. Acacia has a love for sunsets and enjoys them as often as she can.

Anita Zemke

Teacher

Anita Zemke joined the Sylvan team in August 2017. She holds a B.A. in biology and a Master of Associate Medical Sciences in biocommuncation arts. Anita made a career change and completed a teacher preparation program. Anita teaches math and reading at Sylvan, but when she’s not here, she enjoys playing tennis and traveling with her husband, especially to historical sites.

Melissa Deloach

SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Director/Professor

Melissa Deloach joined the Sylvan team in May 2019. By day she’s the Director of the Scholar’s Academy for Spartanburg County, but in the evenings and on Sundays, she manages our college prep program, including SAT/ACT prep and College Reading Strategies. Melissa holds degrees from Clemson University and Converse College. When she isn’t helping teens prepare for college either here or at the Scholar’s Academy, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Casey Norton

Teacher

Casey Norton joined the Sylvan team in December 2016, first as an administrative assistant and now as a teacher. Currently student teaching English at McCracken Middle School, Casey teaches our Advanced Reading Skills program and our SAT/ACT English and reading students. She also supports our teaching staff by pulling teaching materials, providing activities before and after sessions, and assessing students. In her free time, Casey enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.

Dione Williams

Teacher

Dione Williams joined the Sylvan team in January 2015. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, as well as two master’s degrees, one in elementary education and one in technology in education. Dione currently teaches gifted/talented students in District 7. She enjoys reading a good book, getting mani/pedis, and especially watching those “aha” moments when students figure something out.

Madi Gardin

Teacher

Madi Gardin completed her degree in special education from Winthrop in May 2019 and joined the Sylvan team in June. She enjoys teaching Sylvan STEM classes, as well as our math and reading students. She also enjoys knitting and controlling the Sims universe from the comfort of her home with a cat in her lap.

Iana Krokhmal

Teacher

Iana Krokhmal joined the Sylvan team in March 2022. Fluent in Russian, Iana most recently lived in Washington state. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education but also enjoys teaching upper-level math, as well as working with children at her church.

Sarah Bezuidenhout

Teacher

Sarah Bezuidenhout joined the Sylvan team in February 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and German studies from Converse and a master’s degree in medieval studies from the University of Ireland. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.

Jennifer Nockels

Teacher

Jennifer Nockels joined the Sylvan team in June 2021. A graduate of Converse College, she holds teaching certifications in elementary and early childhood education. Jennifer is also very involved in the Spartanburg Little Theatre and enjoys reading, movies, and time with family and friends.

Judy Gibbs-Gray

Teacher

Judy Gibbs-Gray joined the Sylvan team in February 2022. She has extensive experience as a reading specialist and an elementary teacher. She also loves teaching writing and has managed several reading and writing programs in schools. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in reading from Winthrop.  

Lauribeth Acosta

Teacher

Lauribeth joined Sylvan Learning of Spartanburg in October 2023.  She is from Venezuela, and has been teaching for 13 years.  One of her greatest joys is to see her students succeed and know she had a part to play in their success.  She loves linguistics and speaks 3 languages, and she recently started studying French. 

Cathy Kenworthy

Teacher

Cathy taught for 38 years in Indiana, California, and Kentucky.  36 of those years she taught Special Education.  She retired in 2022 when she moved to Spartanburg, SC.  When she’s not teaching at Sylvan, she enjoys listening to podcasts and curling up with a good book.

Meagan Webb

Teacher

Meagan is from North Charleston, SC.  She is a middle school math major, currently pursuing her degree at USC Upstate and will be graduating in the Spring of 2024.  She is student teaching at Boiling Springs Middle School and strives to have a student–centered classroom, where she is able to build relationships with her students.  Ms. Meagan spends her spare time preparing for her upcoming wedding.   

Taylor Gibson

Teacher/Admin

Taylor is from Boiling Springs, SC.  She graduated from North Greenville University with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She currently works at Quality Autism Care as a Behavior Therapist.  Ms. Taylor loves her 4 legged friends, especially her dog Caroline. 

Toni Brown

Teacher

Toni was born in Huntsville Alabama.  Early in life her family moved to Spartanburg, SC.  She graduated from Clemson University with a degree in agronomy.  She also attended Converse where she received her degree in elementary education.  Toni spends her spare time giving back to the community.  She has an extensive garden in her yard that she opens up for children in her neighborhood to teach them where their food comes from.  

Dr. Jeff French

SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Professor

Dr. Jeff, as his Sylvan students call him, graduated from Furman University in 1995. He then held a variety of college-level roles as graduate student, program coordinator, and instructor for the University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College while also serving as a zookeeper at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. With a focus on genetics and ecology, Dr. French finished his graduate work in biology and currently serves as Chair of Biology and Assistant Dean of Science and Math at North Greenville University. In his “free time”, he enjoys preparing students for the SAT and ACT as a LIVE, online instructor for Sylvan. 

Tracy Levi

SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Instructor

Tracy Levi holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s degree In civil engineering. For eleven years she served as a civil engineer in Florida, working primarily with storm water management and water quality programs. Since moving to Asheville, she has enjoyed teaching Hebrew and Judaica to religious school students and teaching reading and math at Sylvan. She also teaches SAT/ACT math through our LIVE, online classes. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys the company of her two daughters and outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. She also has a passion for music and plays keyboard in a local band.