- Greene County High School
- Homepage
GCHS Principal James Peek announces retirement, AD Eddie Hood to be named Interim Principal
November 17, 2021
Greensboro, Ga. — Mr. Eddie Hood, the current GCSS Athletic Director, has been named Associate Principal of Greene County High School. Following the upcoming retirement of current GCHS Principal Mr. James Peek in May 2022, Mr. Hood will become the school’s Interim Principal for the 2022-2023 school year.
Mr. Peek is a native of Greene County and a 1988 graduate of GCHS. Before returning to Greene County to serve as principal of GCHS in 2015, Mr. Peek served as the Principal of Veterans Memorial Middle School in Newton County. Prior to being named Principal, he served as the Assistant Principal and Athletic Director for Veterans Memorial Middle School. He began his career in education as a high school history teacher. Mr. Peek retired from the US Navy Reserves in 2008 after 20 years of military service.
When Mr. Peek arrived at GCHS in 2016, the school was on the GaDOE Needs Improvement List. Following his first year as principal, the school was removed from the list and student achievement rose to a CCRPI score of 71, due to the work of committed staff and students under Mr. Peek’s leadership. Throughout the next few years, the school added dual enrollment courses and received the grant needed to begin the Greene College and Career Academy, which led to many renovations made to the exterior and interior of the building, creating a beautiful and elegant atmosphere across the campus.
In 2019, GCHS also added an Academic Preparation Program (APP), which established cohorts for Special Education students to support them in their graduation efforts. Over a five-year span, the school’s Athletics program earned numerous accolades—a Football region championship and two final eight appearances; Girls track team region championship; Boys 4X100 relay team back-to-back state championships; Boys basketball final eight appearance; Individual Boys cross country state runner-up; and most recently, the Region 8A Sportsmanship Award for two consecutive years.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the community of Greene for allowing me the extraordinary opportunity to serve as the Principal of the high school that I graduated from in 1988. My six years as Principal combined with the students, staff, and families that I’ve had the opportunity to interact with will be treasured memories,” said Mr. Peek. “As I move on to the next phase of my life at the end of this school year, I am certain that Mr. Eddie Hood will provide the effective leadership needed to take Greene County High school to higher levels of achievement.”
Mr. Hood was tabbed to help lead GCHS through this transition due to his extensive high school teaching, coaching, and leadership experience. Mr. Hood holds a Georgia Tier II Leadership certificate from the Professional Standards Commission and has 13 years of experience in the high school classroom and an additional 5 years of high school administrative experience as an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. Given the depth of the current teacher shortage in Georgia, Mr. Hood working hand in hand with Mr. Peek as Associate Principal for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year will give Mr. Hood input in hiring staff for the 2022-2023 school year.
A native of Snellville, Mr. Hood brings to the table over 18 years of experience in education. Prior to joining the Greene County School System as Athletic Director in June 2021, he served as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Central Gwinnett High School. Before moving into school administration in 2016, Mr. Hood taught social studies, including AP Macroeconomics classes, for 12 years and was a nominee for Teacher of the Year at Duluth High School in 2014. Throughout his teaching career, Mr. Hood has coached Basketball, Cross Country, and Track and Field.
Mr. Hood received his bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Campbell University in 2004, a master’s in Educational Administration from Troy University in 2010, and a specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia College in 2015.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to grow as an educational leader in a great school district like the Greene County School System. This is an exciting endeavor that will allow me to continue to positively impact student achievement in the classroom; while supporting and helping teachers grow their craft,” said Mr. Hood. “I plan to continue to serve the Greene County community outside of the school doors to help students reach their full potential. Thank you for this great opportunity, and let’s get to work.”