Following approval by the Henderson County Board of Public Education on Monday evening, Henderson County Public Schools is pleased to announce two principal appointments for the 2026-2027 school year, effective July 1.
“Both of these leaders bring a deep commitment to student success, strong instructional leadership, and a passion for building positive school cultures,” said Superintendent Mark R. Garrett. “We are excited to welcome Tyler Walker to Fletcher Elementary and Omar Lemus to Hillandale Elementary, where their experience and dedication will serve students, staff, and families well.”
Tyler Walker Named Principal of Fletcher Elementary School
Tyler Walker has been named the new principal of Fletcher Elementary School. Mr. Walker currently serves as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Apple Valley Middle School, where he has helped support student achievement, school operations, and extracurricular programs since 2023.
Prior to his role at Apple Valley Middle, Mr. Walker served four years as Assistant Principal at Upward Elementary School. His educational career began in South Carolina, where he spent eight years teaching third and fourth grade at Northside Elementary School in Seneca. During his tenure, he was recognized as Teacher of the Year for the 2015-2016 school year. He also served in several coaching capacities at Seneca High School, including Head JV Coach and Assistant Varsity Coach.
Mr. Walker earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. A graduate of North Henderson High School, Mr. Walker brings a strong understanding of the local community along with extensive experience in both elementary and middle school leadership.
His background in instruction, school leadership, and student development positions him well to lead Fletcher Elementary School into its next chapter of success.
Omar Lemus Named Principal of Hillandale Elementary School
Omar Lemus has been named the new principal of Hillandale Elementary School. Mr. Lemus currently serves as Assistant Principal at Upward Elementary School, where he has served since 2022.
Before entering school administration, Mr. Lemus served Henderson County Public Schools as an English as a Second Language (ML/DL) Instructional Facilitator, providing districtwide leadership in multilingual education, professional learning, and instructional coaching. Since 2018, he has also served as a Project GLAD Agency Trainer and recently earned certification as a Project GLAD® Certifier, allowing him to mentor educators and support language acquisition practices across the region.
In addition to his leadership experience, Mr. Lemus served as an Adjunct Professor at Western Carolina University, helping prepare future educators to effectively support multilingual learners. His educational career also includes service as an ESL teacher in Buncombe County Schools and a Spanish teacher in Davie County Schools.
Mr. Lemus earned a Master of Arts in School Administration from Western Carolina University, a Master of Arts in Education from Wake Forest University, a degree in Foreign Languages from Universidad Tecnológica in El Salvador.
Mr. Lemus brings a wealth of experience in instructional leadership, teacher development, and community engagement that will benefit the students, staff, and families of Hillandale Elementary School.
