Dr. Russell W. Booker

Russell W. Booker, Ph.D., CDE

Lauded as a values-based leader, Russell retired in July 2020 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 distinctions. He received his bachelor’s degree in Education from Wingate University and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. After retiring, Dr. Booker was named Executive Director of the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM). SAM is committed to ensuring Spartanburg’s youth reach academic and life success by convening partners, aligning resources, and driving equity. 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. Russell is deeply involved in the community and serves on a number of local, state, and national boards. He has garnered numerous awards over his career and in June 2020, received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national or statewide significance. Dr. Booker and his wife are the proud parents of Maxwell Booker (18) and Grant Booker (20).