Notable Happenings

Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Events!

October 19, Annual Golf Classic

Get ready to tee off for education at the Henderson County Education Foundation’s 2026 Fall Golf Classic on Monday, October 19 at Champion Hills Golf Club!

Join us for a great day of golf, fun, and community while supporting students and schools across Henderson County. Proceeds from the tournament help fund scholarships, literacy and STEM initiatives, arts and music education, mentoring, and programs that support our students’ most urgent needs.

Spots are filling up, so don’t miss your chance to play! 

SIGN UP HERE

Welcome Back Henderson County!

The 2026–2027 school year is officially underway! As of August 12, ALL students across Henderson County Public Schools are back in classrooms, reconnecting with friends, meeting new teachers, and starting another year of learning and growth.

At the Henderson County Education Foundation, we’re excited for another year of supporting students, educators, and schools throughout our community. Here’s to a wonderful school year filled with new opportunities, big goals, and plenty of reasons to celebrate!

September, Spirit Month at Whit’s! 

Order the Whitser of the month, Pumpkin Marshmallow Crunch, and 25% of the proceeds benefit HCEF! 

Whit’s, 602 Kanuga Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28739

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Program Highlights

Pathfinders Mentors Ready for a New School Year!

The Henderson County Pathfinders Program is ready to kick off another year of mentorship and connection! This year, approximately 

130 community mentors will serve students at both Flat Rock Middle School and East Henderson High School, building meaningful relationships and helping students navigate their journey from 7th grade through graduation.

Over the past few weeks, our new and returning mentors have come together for training to prepare for the year ahead. From learning about grade-specific needs and resources to understanding how to support their students, mentors are equipped and ready to make a difference.

With a dedicated group of returning mentors and new community members joining the Pathfinders family, we are excited to see the relationships, conversations, and opportunities that will grow throughout the school year.

A small moment can shape a big future, and our Pathfinders mentors are ready to help students find their path.

Growing Leaders in Education

HCEF is proud to support Leader in Me, a countywide leadership model that helps students and teachers develop the skills, mindsets, and habits they need to thrive. This year, all 23 Henderson County Public Schools are enrolled in Leader in Me, bringing leadership development to students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

At the heart of the program are the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which teach students to take ownership of their choices, set goals, prioritize what matters, work collaboratively, listen and communicate effectively, value different perspectives, and continually grow. The habits move students from independence to interdependence, while encouraging them to take responsibility for their own growth and recognize the leadership potential in themselves and others.

Leader in Me is more than a set of lessons. Schools use the framework to strengthen relationships, increase student voice and engagement, support goal-setting, and build a culture where everyone is encouraged to be a leader.

This summer, East Henderson, Hendersonville, Innovative, and West Henderson high schools brought staff and student leaders together to begin shaping how the leadership initiative will be implemented across their campuses. Each school identified priorities for the 2026–27 school year, including strengthening family engagement, increasing student empowerment and goal-setting, expanding student voice, and continuing professional development around the 7 Habits. Student leaders also shared ideas for improving communication, supporting students who need help, and building stronger connections among students, families, and their school communities.

The Leader in Me program is made possible through a combination of grants, support from HCPS, HCEF funding, and generous donors who specifically choose to invest in leadership development. Because of this community support, students across Henderson County are gaining skills that extend far beyond the classroom and can help shape how they approach school, relationships, careers, and life.

When we invest in student leaders today, we help build stronger communities for tomorrow.

Summer Camp Recap

Exploring, Creating, and Discovering at STEM Camp

This summer, our rising freshmen dove into an exciting week of hands-on STEM learning, combining science, technology, engineering, and a little adventure along the way!

Students explored soldering and circuits while programming drones, then took their learning to new heights by building and launching rockets. They also visited the Pinball Museum, where they explored the evolution of circuit boards from the 1970s to today and saw how technology has transformed over the decades.

STEM camp wasn’t just about technology. Students also got outside to release rainbow trout while learning about fishing, trout ecology, and the importance of healthy aquatic ecosystems.

And the learning doesn’t stop when camp ends! Looking ahead, future STEM opportunities will include chemistry students visiting the NC Glass Center, where they will be introduced to glass science and have the opportunity to create their own hand-blown drinking glasses. And of course our STEM Summer Camp 2027.

From circuits and drones to rockets, and trout, STEM Camp gives students the opportunity to learn by doing, explore new interests, and discover where their curiosity can take them.

We’re especially grateful to Tom Savage of the Innovative High School for his leadership in making these hands-on STEM learning experiences possible for Henderson County students!

Summer Strings Camp Strikes a Chord

This summer, 84 students from across Henderson County came together for Summer Strings Camp, ranging from first-time musicians to rising high school juniors. Campers participated in orchestra ensembles, chamber groups, sectionals with professional musicians, and special activities like a performance by the Soluna Quartet. Middle school students explored fiddling and improvisation, while high school students learned jazz and improvisation. Beginners also enjoyed daily art activities!

The camp was led in part by HCPS orchestra teachers, former Henderson County orchestra students, and camp participants, many of whom are now studying music in college. The week concluded with a special concert featuring all of the camp’s ensembles, giving students the opportunity to share what they learned with family and friends. HCEF is proud to support opportunities that make music education accessible and inspire students through the arts.

Discovering Outdoors with Mountain Roots

This past year, students traded the classroom for the great outdoors through our partnership with Mountain Roots Outdoor Education! The program gave students the chance to learn through hands-on experiences while exploring the forests, streams, and geology of our own backyard.

Students explored forest ecology, aquatic ecosystems and watersheds, geology, and the rock cycle while learning how these systems are connected. They spent time observing their surroundings, asking questions, working together, and discovering the science that exists all around them.

Beyond the science, Mountain Roots incorporates leadership and personal

 development, giving students opportunities to build confidence, problem-solve, collaborate, and learn in a completely different environment.

From exploring the forest floor to investigating what happens in our waterways, students experienced firsthand that learning doesn’t have to stop when you leave the classroom.

HCEF is proud to help make these affordable, high-quality outdoor learning experiences possible for Henderson County students and to support programs that encourage curiosity, exploration, and a deeper connection to our local environment.

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Board & Organization Updates

40 Years of HCEF: A Legacy of Opportunity

What started with eight community leaders and a big idea has grown into 40 years of creating opportunities for students across Henderson County.

On October 8, 1986, the Henderson County Education Foundation was officially incorporated. The founding board, Hardy R. Caldwell, Dwight W. Bennett, Dr. Alex L. Booth Jr., Mrs. Frank Drake, E. L. Justus, John H. Love, Joe D. Spearman and Superintendent Glenn Marlow, shared a simple but ambitious vision: to elevate opportunities for every child in Henderson County.

And they got to work.

Starting Small, Dreaming Big

In those early years, HCEF focused on finding the gaps and figuring out how to fill them. Teacher mini grants gave educators the opportunity to turn creative classroom ideas into reality. The Special Fund for Children, now known as the Spring Fund, gave principals a way to respond quickly when students needed clothing, medical assistance, field trip support or other necessities. Scholarships opened doors, too, helping students pursue opportunities ranging from music and the arts to vocational training and summer enrichment.

The foundation was already establishing a philosophy that still guides its work today: listen to educators, understand what students need and invest where it can make the greatest difference.

Some of the Best Classrooms Don’t Have Four Walls

Two of HCEF’s most unique chapters began with two very special pieces of land. In 1987, brothers Vernon and Leander Johnson gifted the Johnson Farm, an 18th-century homestead, to the school system. What began as a historic property was transformed through community vision and fundraising into a living heritage center where students could experience history rather than simply read about it.

Then, in 1989, the Bullington Estate was donated to HCEF. The 13-acre property became Bullington Gardens, developed in partnership with Henderson County Public Schools and NC Cooperative Extension. Today, it continues to serve as an outdoor classroom where students and adults explore gardening, natural science and environmental stewardship.

These projects showed that education doesn’t always happen behind a desk. Sometimes it happens in a garden, on a farm or while getting your hands dirty.

Celebrating the People Behind Education

HCEF has always understood that great schools are built by great people.

In 2003, the foundation established the Education Hall of Fame to honor individuals whose dedication helped shape Henderson County Public Schools. The inaugural class included 14 honorees, recognizing educators and community leaders whose contributions left a lasting mark on local education.

The Hall of Fame created another important piece of HCEF’s legacy: making sure the people who helped build our schools would not be forgotten.

Growing With Our Schools

As the needs of students changed, HCEF changed with them.

In 2012, the district’s first school launched Leader in Me, a leadership development framework designed to help students develop leadership skills while strengthening school culture. Today, with support from HCEF, Leader in Me reaches all 23 Henderson County Public Schools, with each school bringing its own personality and approach to the program. And the foundation’s work has continued to expand.

Through Mountain Roots, students experience hands-on outdoor education connected to science standards. Investments in STEM provide students with materials, resources and real-world learning opportunities that encourage critical thinking and problem solving. Support for arts and music education gives students opportunities to experience visual arts, music and live performances.

The Grow Our Own initiative helps cultivate future educators, while scholarships now total more than $150,000 each year, helping graduating seniors take their next step after high school.

And through Educator Mini Grants and the Spring Fund, HCEF continues two of the traditions that began in its earliest years: empowering teachers and helping principals meet students’ immediate needs.

Finding the Next Generation

In 2024, HCEF launched the Henderson County Pathfinders Mentoring Program with the belief that students can go further when they have someone in their corner. Now entering its third year, Pathfinders has grown into a community of more than 130 mentors investing their time, encouragement and experience in the lives of Henderson County students.

These mentors aren’t there to have all the answers. They’re there to listen, encourage, celebrate the wins, help students work through challenges and remind them that their future is full of possibilities.

As HCEF celebrates 40 years of creating opportunities for students, Pathfinders represents something especially meaningful: the future of education isn’t just about what we give students, but who we help surround them with.

And with more than 130 mentors showing up for students, that future is already taking shape.

40 Years of Leadership

Behind every chapter of HCEF’s history has been strong leadership.

Dr. Don Jones served the foundation for 14 years, including 10 years as President and Executive Director, helping significantly expand scholarship opportunities for students. Later, Summer Stipe served as Executive Director, guiding the growth of Leader in Me and strengthening the foundation’s focus on supporting the whole child and the whole school.

Today, that work continues with the same spirit that inspired HCEF in 1986.

And We’re Just Getting Started

Forty years ago, HCEF began with eight community leaders who believed Henderson County students deserved more opportunities.

Today, that belief lives on in classrooms, gardens, farms, science labs, music programs, mentoring relationships, scholarships and countless other experiences.

The names of the programs may have changed. The needs of students have evolved. The foundation itself has grown tremendously.

But the mission remains remarkably consistent:

Invest in our students. Support our educators. Strengthen our schools. Build a thriving community.

As we celebrate 40 years, we are grateful to everyone who has been part of the journey, from the founding board members and educators who started it all to the donors, volunteers, mentors, community partners, teachers, principals and families who continue to make this work possible.

40 years. Countless opportunities. Countless futures. One incredible community.

And we’re excited to see what the next 40 years will bring!

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Educator Highlights:

Welcoming New Leaders Across HCPS

Tyler Walker Named Principal of Fletcher Elementary School

Tyler Walker has been named the new principal of Fletcher Elementary School. Previously he served as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Apple Valley Middle School, Walker brings extensive experience in elementary and middle school leadership. He also served as Assistant Principal at Upward Elementary and taught third and fourth grade in South Carolina, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016.

A graduate of North Henderson High School, Walker holds degrees from Clemson University and Arkansas State University. His background in instruction, leadership, and student development will guide Fletcher Elementary into its next chapter.

Omar Lemus Named Principal of Hillandale Elementary School

Omar Lemus has been named the new principal of Hillandale Elementary School. Previously he was Assistant Principal at Upward Elementary, and before that he served as an English as a Second Language Instructional Facilitator for HCPS, providing leadership in multilingual education, professional development, and instructional coaching.

Lemus is also a Project GLAD trainer and certifier and has served as an adjunct professor at Western Carolina University. He holds master’s degrees from Western Carolina University and Wake Forest University, along with a degree in Foreign Languages from Universidad Tecnológica in El Salvador. His expertise in instructional leadership and multilingual education will be a valuable asset to the Hillandale community.

Sloan Neuburger Named Principal of Rugby Middle School 

Henderson County Public Schools has named Sloan Neuburger as the new principal of Rugby Middle School. Neuburger previously served as the school’s assistant principal, where she helped strengthen school systems, support teachers, and improve student outcomes.

With experience across HCPS, including roles at Sugarloaf Elementary and North Henderson High School, Neuburger is a strong advocate for student leadership and the Leader in Me framework. She brings a collaborative leadership style and a deep commitment to students, staff, and families.

“I am incredibly honored to serve as principal of Rugby Middle School,” Neuburger said. “Together, we will build on the strong foundation already in place and continue striving for excellence every day as Raiders.”

Neuburger holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University.

Dr. John McDaris Named Principal of Rugby Middle School 

Dr. John McDaris is officially serving as the new principal of Hendersonville High School. A longtime Henderson County Public Schools leader, McDaris brings extensive experience in school administration and student-centered leadership to the Bearcat community.

McDaris joined HCPS in 2014 as an assistant principal at North Henderson High School and later served as assistant principal and athletic director at West Henderson High School. He became principal of Rugby Middle School in 2021 and was named the 2023-24 HCPS Principal of the Year.

A graduate of Western Carolina University, McDaris holds degrees in Social Sciences Education and Political Science, School Administration, and Educational Leadership. He looks forward to building on Hendersonville High School’s proud traditions while continuing its legacy of student success.

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Lunch Notes from Peggy

A Strong Start, A Shared Commitment

The 2026–2027 school year is already underway, and across Henderson County, classrooms are busy, students are learning, educators are leading, and schools are building momentum for the year ahead.

At the Henderson County Education Foundation, we are proud to stand alongside them.

For more than 40 years, HCEF has worked in partnership with Henderson County Public Schools and our community to help ensure students and educators have the resources, experiences, and support they need to thrive. That commitment continues this year with a renewed focus on one powerful vision:

Every Child. Every Educator. Every School. Every Day.

We envision a Henderson County where every student is empowered to learn, lead, and reach their full potential in school, career, and life.

Throughout this school year, HCEF will continue serving students through opportunities in literacy, leadership development, mentoring, and scholarships to support postsecondary pathways.

We will continue supporting educators by celebrating excellence, strengthening the educator pipeline, and investing in innovative teaching and professional learning through educator mini-grants.

We will continue strengthening schools by responding to emerging needs and expanding opportunities in the arts, outdoor education, and STEM.

And we will continue sustaining impact through strong community partnerships, responsible stewardship, and a commitment to investing resources where they can make the greatest difference.

But at the heart of this work are people.

It is the student who begins to see new possibilities for the future.

It is the teacher who turns an idea into an experience students will remember.

It is the mentor who consistently shows up and reminds a young person that someone believes in them.

And it is the businesses, organizations, donors, and volunteers throughout Henderson County who recognize that investing in public education is an investment in the strength of our entire community.

Our 2026-2029 Strategic Plan reflects HCEF’s belief that public education transforms lives, strengthens communities, and creates opportunities for future generations. It is also grounded in the belief that every student has unique strengths and tremendous potential.

As the school year continues, we want our students and educators to know one thing clearly:

You have a community behind you.

To our students: Keep learning, keep growing, and keep discovering what you are capable of.

To our educators and school staff: Thank you for the countless ways you encourage, challenge, and care for our students each day.

And to our community: Thank you for continuing to believe in our schools and in the young people who will shape the future of Henderson County.

There is so much ahead of us this year, and HCEF is excited to continue working together to create opportunities, remove barriers, and help every student reach their full potential.

Serving Students. Supporting Educators. Strengthening Schools. Sustaining Impact.

Every Child. Every Educator. Every School. Every Day.