By AUSTIN DeFOOR – Web Master
Clarke Central High School Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker has been selected by the Georgia Association of Secondary Principals as the 2013 Georgia Principal of the Year Award winner.
Hooker, as well as other middle and high school principals from around the state, were interviewed in Athens in early February to determine the state winner, who would then represent Georgia at the national level.
“It is certainly rewarding to be named a finalist for such a prestigious honor, and I must give credit to the entire Clarke Central family. Working together, we have ensured our school has a focus on academic and extracurricular achievement, as well as a culture of respect,” Hooker said in a Clarke County School District press release.
Hooker was among three high school principals announced as finalists. Others included principals from Newton County High School in Newton County and Thomasville High School in Thomas County.
CCHS teachers say that Hooker is deserving of the award.
“Hooker is one of the reasons I chose to teach at CCHS,” CCHS science department teacher Scott Swain said. “I have seen his heart for the students, faculty and staff. He is passionate about our students and their success and even when he is busy with the day-to-day tasks in running a school, he takes time to ask me how I am doing and always gives an encouraging word.”
According to the GAASP, the “program recognizes principals that excel in educational leadership, resolving complex problems, developing self and others, and community service.” Swain believes that Hooker demonstrates these characteristics.
“It was my desire to work under a leader and not a boss,” Swain said. “A boss is satisfied with maintaining, but leader is not satisfied unless he is moving forward. Hooker is definitely a leader.”
Hooker became principal at CCHS after leaving Burney-Harris Lyons Middle School, one of CCHS’ feeder schools. Because of this, many upperclassmen and recent graduates have spent both middle and high school having Hooker as their principal.
“He has (had) to see the transformation from when he left us in 6th grade, to come back and see him again, (Hooker) is like ‘I left these as little youngins, and now (the students) are in adulthood,'” CCHS senior Daily Diaz-Rojas said.
Diaz-Rojas feels that having Hooker as a principal throughout her secondary education has given way to a better transition.
“He’s one of my favorite principals, he knows how to handle stuff,” she said. “He’s always there, you can always schedule a meeting with him. Having a principal that’s always there saying ‘Hey, good morning, how are you?’ He is always checking up on you whenever you feel bad or sad.”
Since Hooker’s arrival in 2008, CCHS was awarded the Silver Medal by U.S. News and World Report, and ranked the school in the top three percent of high schools nationwide, and Newsweek has placed it in the 96th percentile of high schools across the nation. In summer 2012, CCHS was also ranked among the top seven percent of high schools in the nation by the Washington Post High School Challenge.
