Spartanburg District Five Schools is grieving the loss of a beloved member of the Duncan Elementary School of the Arts, and District Five family. Betty Bohmer, a theatre teacher at Duncan, tragically lost her life in a car crash on the way to school Wednesday morning.
Betty was a member of the District Five family for 23 years, beginning at D.R. Hill Middle School in 2000, where she worked as a drama teacher helping students shine on stage for two decades. She went on to work at Byrnes High School and Freshman Academy in 2020, and most recently, has taught theatre at Duncan Elementary since 2021. At Duncan, she was known for her constant positive attitude and infectious love for students. Her passion for the arts was evident in everything she did, as she spent countless hours sharing her joy for theatre with students, and leading them in the school’s spring musical production. “Our hearts are broken,” says District Five Superintendent Dr. Randall Gary. “This loss reaches far beyond the three schools this teacher has called home, and impacts our entire district.”
Additional grief counselors and mental health staff will be on hand at Duncan Elementary School of the Arts tomorrow, and other schools if needed, and will remain as long as students and staff need the extra support. Funeral arrangements for Betty Bohmer have not yet been made, but District Five will communicate them as soon as they are finalized. We ask that the entire community keep the Bohmer family in your thoughts and prayers in the days to come.