# Superintendent Finalist Community Forum - Oct 22

The October 22 superintendent finalist community forum for Spartanburg District Five Schools featured finalist Eric Williams discussing his leadership approach and answering questions from parents, staff, and community members. He emphasized relationship-based leadership, listening to teachers and students, supporting principals and classroom instruction, improving achievement for students with diverse needs, and sustaining athletics, fine arts, and other extracurricular opportunities. Community members highlighted the district’s relationships, innovation, staff support, integrity, and continued improvement as priorities for its next superintendent.

Williams said school safety is essential and praised existing District Five efforts, including weapons-detection systems and relationship-based reporting, while stressing that safe school climates also depend on trusted connections between students and adults. He discussed teacher recruitment and retention, professional development, and planning for continued district growth. No contract awards, purchasing decisions, budget allocations, votes, or procurement-related action items were identified.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Sources
- [Superintendent Finalist Community Forum - Oct 22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHR6PTnIwac) - Spartanburg District Five Schools