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Interim principal receives top support
By BARBARA BEHRENDT © St. Petersburg Times, published December 12, 2000 CRYSTAL RIVER -- Superintendent David Hickey today will recommend that the School Board give his former assistant principal, Gina Hodges, his old job as principal at Crystal River Middle School. Hodges, who has served as interim principal of CRMS since Hickey's election last month, was chosen over four other applicants. Three of those are assistant principals at other district schools and the fourth was an educator from Maine. In seeking the position, she listed as her objective: "to have the opportunity to utilize my extensive education and administrative skills to become a visionary and progressive principal for Crystal River Middle School." Hodges, 37, has been assistant principal at the school since 1998 and served previously as a math teacher at the school. During that time, she also had numerous administrative responsibilities, including assisting with discipline referrals and serving as acting disciplinarian for summer school. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Florida, a master's in educational leadership from the University of South Florida and has completed course work for her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of South Florida but has not completed her dissertation. The 1997 Crystal River Middle School teacher of the year, Hodges has served on numerous committees for the state, the district and her school. In those settings, she has been involved in issues ranging from distance learning to staff development. A graduate of the district's leadership training program, Hodges has trained teachers in areas such as grant writing, technology and new principal preparations. Hodges could not be reached for comment on Monday. "I'm really excited about her," said assistant superintendent Linda Kelley. "I think she'll be an excellent principal." Kelley said she had worked with Hodges on a variety of committees and was always impressed with her. "She is very, very bright and can grasp concepts very quickly. But then she really applies them too." Hodges' involvement in some of the district's initiatives led to her being a role model for other administrators in the county, Kelley said. Hodges made changes in how the Crystal River Middle School's advisory and enhancement council measured its progress and was invited to do the same thing on the county level. "She is very good at leading people to consensus. First, she involves them in the discussion and then helps them reach consensus," Kelley said. "I think she's going to be a very good principal and she's very committed to that school. . . . I think we're going to have some real stability there." Hickey has been principal at the school since July, when he stepped down from his job as assistant superintendent saying he wanted to return to a job where he was with students. Then he decided to run for the job of superintendent. Hickey had previously been principal at the school from 1990 until 1998, and Linda Alexander, who retired last year, was principal after Hickey left the first time.
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