A longtime Clarke County School District teacher and administrator who currently heads the Social Circle school system will take over as CCSD superintendent this fall, the school board announced Monday.
The board announced it had named Robbie Hooker the sole finalist for the position, pending a formal vote on Thursday night.
Hooker was CCSD’s Teacher of the Year in 1995-96 while at Coile Middle School. Two years later, he left to become an assistant principal in Barrow County and returned to Clarke County in 2003 to take over as principal of Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School. He was named principal of Clarke Central High School in 2008 and held that position until 2016, winning the Georgia High School Principal of the Year award in 2013. Hooker left CCSD for a job as assistant superintendent of Henry County schools in 2016, and became superintendent in Social Circle in 2019.
“Dr. Hooker has worked in complex communities, including many years in Clarke County. He has a strong history of building leadership capacity and relationships which are critical to our culture and climate as well as other strategic priorities,” Board of Education President LaKeisha Gannt said in a news release. “The board is excited about the direction of education in Clarke County under Dr. Hooker’s leadership. We are also grateful for Dr. Thomas’ leadership, as she has led the district through significant transitions.”
Superintendent Xernona Thomas announced in November that she would retire at the end of 2022. Hooker is scheduled to take over as superintendent on Oct. 10. She replaced controversial superintendent Demond Means two years ago. Means replaced Philip Lanoue, who left in 2016 under the cloud of allegations that three Cedar Shoals High School students sexually assaulted a classmate on campus. In between was interim superintendent Jack Parrish, making Hooker CCSD’s fifth leader in the past seven years.
Although officials had discussed potentially appointing an interim replacement for Thomas and leaving the selection of a permanent superintendent for next year, when three new members will join the school board, the board held two closed-door meetings to discuss personnel matters last month, leading to speculation that it might be closing in on Thomas’ successor.
Hooker’s selection was widely praised by CCSD parents, staff and other community members.
“I am so thrilled for our district and hopeful that this is the final element to turning things around and making this district the best it can be.” Jami Mays, founder the of the advocacy group Coalition for Athens Schools, posted on social media.
“I’m overjoyed to welcome the wise, focused and accomplished Dr. Robbie Hooker back to Clarke County as superintendent,” wrote Mayor Kelly Girtz, a former CCSD teacher and principal. “We are in good hands!”
While at Social Circle, Hooker led the development of a five-year plan with the mission of empowering students with an equitable and excellent education; created a unified, performance-based culture; and won a Facebook grant that provided every student a Chromebook, according to CCSD’s news release.
“I am excited to return and join the leaders, teachers, and staff at the Clarke County School District. I look forward to working with our governance team to focus on our students and make this the best educational experience possible,” Hooker said.
Hooker holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in behavioral studies from Valdosta State University, a doctorate in educational leadership from Clemson University, and certifications in educational leadership from the University of Georgia and school counseling from the University of West Georgia. He and his wife, Karen, have two children, Kaitlyn and Jonathan.
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