Meet the five principals new to Henrico Schools this year
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Henrico Schools will welcome five new principals for the 2023-24 school year for two schools in the Fairfield District, two schools in the Varina District, and one school in the Tuckahoe District.
Cherita Sears, who previously worked in Richmond Public Schools, will join Varina High School, and Dr. Tyrus Lyles, who worked in Petersburg City Public Schools, will join Elko Middle School as the new school principals.
Leah Segar, who previously taught at Fairfield Middle School before becoming a principal, will serve at Wilder Middle School, and Michael Powell, previously a principal in Richmond Public Schools, will serve at Laburnum Elementary School.
Danielle Sims, formerly the associate principal at Colonial Trail Elementary, will now serve as the principal of Maybeury Elementary School.
The new principals have had careers spanning many different roles in education, serving as teachers, administrators, school board members, and almost all served as principals in different school divisions.
Collaborating and engaging with staff was a big emphasis for the incoming school leaders – including holding one-on-one conversations with staff about their needs – as well as getting to know the students and families that make up their school communities through back-to-school and meet-and-greet events.
As staffing shortages remain an issue for Henrico County – and for counties throughout Virginia – the principals have also focused on providing enough resources and support for staff to retain talented teachers and help out staff who may have to cover vacancies in the classroom.
Among the most important goals of the new leaders were to foster inclusivity, unity, respect, social and emotional growth, empathy, and to be present listeners and visible mentors for those in their school communities.
Tyrus Lyles – Elko Middle School
Tyrus Lyles will join the Elko Eagles just after the school achieved accreditation during the 2022-2023 school year. He credits the accomplishment to the hard work of the Elko staff.
“I firmly believe I lead one of the best teams in Henrico County Public Schools,” Lyles said.
“As a team, we will continue implementing strong instructional practices and nurturing our students to take Elko Middle School to the next level.”
Lyles was most recently the Director of Student Support Services in Petersburg City Public Schools. He served as the principal of Huguenot High School and Binford Middle School in Richmond and the principal of a magnet school in Jacksonville, Florida. Before becoming a principal, he taught Algebra, Earth Science, and Biology.
Lyles described himself as a “visionary leader” who will be attentive to the needs of his staff and Elko students and their families. He said he aims to connect with more of the community as Elko prepares to go back to school.
“I will be visible and present in our school community,” Lyles said. “Meeting our parents and stakeholders at various events will allow me to see the community and the families Elko Middle School serves.”
As the 2023-2024 school year approaches, Lyles said he wants to stick to his philosophy on educational leadership: learning from and supporting the students and staff while also involving the community and stakeholders.
“Educational leaders learn and lead at the same time. They set a clear mission and vision with achievable goals to move their schools to the next level,” Lyles said. “The genuine relationships foster a love for the school, and all involved. Seeing these leaders make the impossible possible each day is impressive.”
Lyles said that he hopes the Elko Eagles will “continue to soar higher” in academic achievement under his leadership.
“Watching our students grow and learn is an awesome feeling that fuels my soul as a principal,” he said. “The team at Elko Middle School has so much talent and expertise that I am excited to lead and learn from them.”
Michael Powell – Laburnum Elementary School
Powell, the new principal at Laburnum Elementary, was most recently the principal of John B. Cary Elementary School in Richmond.
He received the R.E.B. Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership in 2020 and the Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year Award in 2004. He also recently earned the School Principal Bell Award from the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals.
Powell is described as being known for his “school leadership, classroom teaching, and community activism” by the Kiwanis Club of Richmond. He has a particular interest in science education, according to the club, and was committed to Cary Elementary’s Science Technology Engineering the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) program and to project-based learning.
Before he was an educator, Powell served as a firefighter and an emergency medical technician.
Powell did not respond to requests from the Henrico Citizen for comment by the time this article published.
The Kiwanis Club said Powell is dedicated to “his choice to be proactive in the lives of children and become an educator.”
“Mr. Powell has committed his entire life’s work to enriching the lives of others. He has dedicated many of his energies to forwarding education, particularly among those who often find themselves voiceless in society.”
Cherita Sears – Varina High School
Sears, whose son graduated from Varina High, said she is thrilled to serve her own neighborhood as a new principal.
“I am extremely excited to get to serve in the community in which I live,” she said. “My son is a Varina grad so this is my dream job!”
Sears will come to Henrico Schools after previously serving as the principal of Thomas Jefferson High School and Albert Hill Middle School in Richmond. She also taught English at Richmond’s Armstrong High school and served as an English teacher and a dean of students in Chesterfield.
Sears emphasized her focus on creating a “safe and nurturing school culture” that meets students’ “nutritional, social, and emotional needs.” She also discussed the importance of professional development for teachers, reciprocal communication with families, and a “shared vision” among faculty.
“When I began teaching in 2000, my philosophy of education was simply that ‘all children can learn,’” Sears said. “23 years later, I still believe that all students can learn, but my understanding of what is required to create space for student learning is more complex, more informed.”
“I understand more clearly that as a school leader, it is my responsibility to create school, classroom, and learning environments that address the needs of every learner,” she said.
The biggest challenge ahead will be staffing, according to Sears. Varina High School has the highest number of vacancies for full-time licensed classroom teachers in the county with 20.4 vacancies as of July 26.
“Many people are leaving education,” Sears said. “It's my job to show them why VHS is an amazing place to work.”
Sears described herself as a “collaborative leader,” starting a “listening tour” where she met one-on-one with all Varina staff, and she hopes to connect with students and families.
“My biggest leader trait is collaboration. I want to create a space for all voices to be heard and for everyone to feel a sense of belonging,” Sears said. “I will continue with creating opportunities for families to come to meet with me and to get to know VHS. I also plan to spend time with my students and get to know them and their needs.”
Leah Segar – Wilder Middle School
Segar, most recently the principal of Montross Middle School in Westmoreland County, is now the principal of Wilder Middle School, returning to HCPS after she previously taught at Fairfield Middle School for six years from 2014 to 2020.
“The past 3-4 years have been a whirlwind! In 2020, I left teaching with educators who were more like family to step into administration in unknown territory: Westmoreland County,” Segar said in a July 1 Facebook post. “That move was by far the best thing that could have happened to me as a school principal.”
Segar was honored as an HCPS Teacher of the Year in 2020. She taught English at Fairfield and has had previous experience as an assistant principal and International Baccalaureate teacher. In addition to working at Essex County Public Schools, she also served on the Essex School Board.
Segar said she is excited to join Wilder.
“Now, I have the opportunity to be stretched and refined and to lead in a new place: Wilder Middle School,” Segar said in the Facebook post. “It won’t be easy (as nowhere is) but it will be worth it.”
Segar did not respond to requests from the Henrico Citizen for comment by the time this article published.
In her post, Segar thanked those who supported her as the principal of Montross and gave her “the chance to be myself and enjoy learning who I was.”
“One thing I have learned is that God will call you to places you never expected, and if you are faithful and stay centered and encouraged, you will be blessed by being a blessing!” she said. “The people who I’ve met along the way have been the best gift!
Segar also expressed enthusiasm for the year ahead at Wilder.
“Thank you, Montross Middle and hello, L. Douglas Wilder Middle,” she said.
Danielle Sims – Maybeury Elementary School
Joining Maybeury Elementary this year, Sims said she hopes to create a “collaborative and innovative” learning environment where students and staff feel “valued, inspired, and motivated to excel.”
“My leadership approach revolves around actively listening, supporting, and empowering those I work with,” she said. “My goal is to lead by example, fostering a culture of respect, growth, and unity within the Maybeury community.”
Sims has been a longtime educator in Henrico County; she began her career as a teacher at Harvie Elementary School, where she taught for 10 years. She then served as a resource teacher at Ward Elementary School before becoming the associate principal of Colonial Trail Elementary in 2020.
Before the school year starts, Sims said she wants to build strong connections with those in Maybeury. She has had direct conversations with staff, established relationships with community partners such as Fit4Kids and the YMCA, and hosted an Aug. 3 event – “Popsicles with the Principal” – to meet parents and students in a “relaxed setting.”
“Engaging with the school community is a top priority for me,” Sims said. “I believe in the importance of taking time to build those strong relationships with all stakeholders. I have already initiated one-on-one conversations with staff to understand their personal and professional aspirations.”
Sims said she views educational leadership “as a service,” and aims to create a “diverse and inclusive” school culture while being an active listener.
“I believe in being a servant leader – one who empowers teachers, staff, and students by providing the support, resources, and guidance they need to excel,” she said. “This approach entails active listening, empathy, and a commitment to continuous improvement.”
She also said that Maybeury has provided her a strong foundation for her primary focus: helping her students become “adaptable, life-ready citizens who are prepared for this rapidly evolving world.”
“I am excited about equipping our students with the skills and mindset they will need to excel in jobs that may not even exist yet,” she said.
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Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.
