Henderson County Education Foundation to induct five into Education Hall of Fame

Press release from the Henderson County Education Foundation: 

The Henderson County Education Foundation (HCEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Education Hall of Fame.  Each year, individuals who have demonstrated measurable influence or made significant contributions to the grown and development of education in Henderson County are honored with the Hall of Fame Award. Since 2003, 128 individuals have been honored with induction into HCEF Education Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include:

Dr. Donald C. Jones, graduate of Wofford College and The University of Tennessee in Knoxville with his Masters and Ed. Doctorate degree, spent 20 years in education and 20 years as a National Motivational Speaker and Executive Coach and served seven years at Kanuga as their Camp Director. He served on the Henderson County Education Foundation board for six years before he became the Executive Director in 2006 and served until his retirement in 2014. Dr. Jones was a visionary and substaintially grew the fundraising efforts of the Education Foundation and increased the services to students and teachers. Dr. Jones received the Chamber’s prestigious Education Champion award in 2011.

Lemuel Carl Jones began his career at 9th Avenue School in 1962 teaching Physical Eduation. He then moved to the Central Office of Hendersonville City Schools and played a key role as an ambassador for African American students during the integration of schools. Mr. Jones went on to teach Physical Education and Health at Hendersonville Junior High and then Hendersonville High School until his retirment in 1991. Known by his athletes as Coach Jones, he coached football and basketball for many years and made an impact on countless young men.

Jan Erickson Stanley spent the entirety of her 35 year career at West Henderson High School as the Physical Education and Health teacher and served as the Assistant Athletic Director for the final five years of her tenure before her retirement in 2010. Beyond the classroom, Coach Stanley was known for her exemplar coaching career – both women’s basketball and volleyball. She was a trailblazer and began the women’s volleyball program in 1975 at West Henderson during the Title IX era.  Mrs. Stanley has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career including the first recipient of the Kiwanis Lifetime Acheivement Award and NC High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Joseph George Tamer began his teaching career in South Carolina and joined Flat Rock Middle School as a teacher in 1989. He continued his career in Henderson County at Apple Valley Middle School as a teacher and later became assistant principal. Mr. Tamer then had the honor of serving as the first principal of Glenn C. Marlow Elementary School where he worked for eight years until his retirement in 2007. Under his leadership, Glenn C. Marlow was named a School of Distinction in its first year and this honor continued for many subsequent years. Marlow was also named a School of Excellence from 2002 to 2005.

Virginia Dale Thompson, native of Henderson County, began her teaching career in Greenville, South Carolina and came back to Henderson County as a teacher at Balfour Elementary for two years before her role as the Unit Wide County Counselor. In 1968, Ms. Thompson started her 26 year tenure at Hillandale Elementary where she taught second grade. One year later, she became one of the first female principals in the district where she served Hillandale as their principal until 1993. She spent one year in the Central Office before her retirement in 1994. Ms. Virginia Thompson received many awards during her career for her outsanding service to Henderson County.

The inductees will be honored at the 17th annual Education Celebration, presented by AdventHealth Hendersonville, on April 30, 2019 at Jeter Mountain Farm. In addition to celebrating the 2019 Hall of Fame inductees, Henderson County’s Principal of the Year, Luke Manuel, and Teachers of the Year will be honored at the event. A reception will begin at 5:30 with dinner and program to follow at 6:00.

Education Celebration tickets can be purchased online at hcefnc.org/events/educationcelebration or by calling the Foundation at 828.697.5551. For sponsorship opportunities or for more information about the 2019 Education Celebration, please contact Summer Stipe at summer@hcefnc.org.

The mission of the Henderson County Education Foundation is to develop resources to support educational excellence in the Henderson County Public Schools.