McDowell's Garrett to succeed Bryant as Henderson County Public Schools Superintendent

Mark Garrett (left) and Blair Craven, Chair of the Henderson County Board of Public Education (right), sign the contract of employment for the 7th superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools on Thursday. Garrett's superintendency starts July 1, 2022.
Mark Garrett (left) and Blair Craven, Chair of the Henderson County Board of Public Education (right), sign the contract of employment for the 7th superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools on Thursday. Garrett's superintendency starts July 1, 2022.

Mark Garrett will succeed Dr. John Bryant as Henderson County Public Schools’ seventh superintendent, effective July 1, the Henderson County Board of Public Education announced Thursday during a Special Called board meeting.

Garrett is the superintendent of McDowell County Schools in Marion, where he has served since 2013.

“I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to serve the students, staff, and families of Henderson County Public Schools,” said Garrett. “Working together, we will build on the district’s tradition of excellence and propel HCPS to even greater heights by being student-centered, mission driven and future focused. My family and I look forward to joining such an outstanding school district and the Henderson County community."

Garrett is the 2021 Western Region Superintendent of the Year and a finalist for the 2021 North Carolina A. Craig Phillips Superintendent of the Year award, given in conjunction with the North Carolina Association of School Administrators, the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association and the North Carolina School Boards Association.

This school year, McDowell County Schools launched McDowell Virtual Academy for grades K-12, implemented Universal Pre-K, and secured Safe Schools Grants to fund school resource officers at each McDowell school.

As superintendent, Garrett also restructured McDowell’s grade-level composition, a two-year plan which involved relocating staff and students and reconfiguring each bus route in the county. His work launching a telemedicine program for students earned Garrett the School Based Health Alliance N.C. Superintendent of the Year award in 2015.

“We are thrilled to have someone with such an exceptional level of experience choose to lead in Henderson County,” said School Board Chair Blair Craven. “We welcome Mr. Garrett into the HCPS Family, and are excited to see how his expertise in public K-12 leadership will continue strengthening our already esteemed school communities.”

Garrett serves on the McDowell Technical Community College Board of Trustees, North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors, Western North Carolina Regional Education Foundation Board of Directors, WRESA Superintendent’s Council and myFutureNC Advisory Board of Commissioners.

He was also formerly selected to serve on the NC Governor’s Superintendent Advisory Council, appointed to the NC Department of Public Instruction’s Task Force on Teacher Recruitment, Credentialing & Retention, and is a former member of the Board of Directors for both the McDowell County Health Coalition and the Corpening Memorial YMCA.

Bryant announced in February that he was stepping down as superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools to pursue a new position with Pardee UNC Health Care. Bryant has been superintendent since 2020 and will complete the school year through June 30 as superintendent.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: McDowell's Garrett to succeed Bryant as Henderson County Public Schools Superintendent