In an emotional moment during the Green County Board of Education meeting, Superintendent William Hodges announced his intent to retire from the district effective June 30, 2026.
Hodges, who has served as superintendent of his home district since 2018, delivered the news by reading a heartfelt letter to board members, staff, and the community.
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Letter from Superintendent Hodges to GCBOE
Dear members of the Green County Board of Education,
I believe all can be true… I love this job. I do not really want to go. It is time to go.
In 2018, upon accepting this position, I noted to everyone that all should buckle up as we were going to push Green County Schools in all areas to be the best, to provide the best for children. I have often noted that I would go as hard as I could for as long as I could for the betterment of our students, staff, and community. While I could go a little longer, it is time to go to another path. It is hard because I love this place and there are parts of me that would love to stay a little longer. This is not easy, but I have peace.
People have asked me… what is important? My answer has always been that everything is important! If it is important to our students, it is important to me.
If you ask me if teaching and learning are important, I will proclaim most certainly. I hope that our outstanding academic performances across the region and state have shown that commitment from this board and each person within our district. We have continually ranked amongst the best.
I hope that you can look around and see our commitment to facilities. Wow, what a vision by this board and a collaborative effort to achieve our goals.
I hope that staff can say we have made this a better place to work! The magic is always in the people. With your help, we have prioritized our people with a focus on benefits and ensuring the wellbeing of our staff. This place is family.
I hope that our families say that my child goes to a safe and wholesome school, far removed from the craziness of this world. I hope all can see our commitment to student life.
We have accomplished so much together in a responsible approach.
Tough times come. Tough times go. Strong people remain. Covid, legislation, irrational people, weather, beans, balls, and buses. We have been leaders in the good times and tough times. We are still here, stronger.
I appreciate my wife, my kids, and my family’s support in this journey. Not all days have been easy, but all have been worthwhile. They have supported me in every step.
I appreciate the ones that have served before me, I was fortunate to work for Buddy Lowe and Jim Frank. I look forward to helping those that follow if needed.
I love each kid in our schools! I love this community! I love the staff we have in place. I love collaborating with my administrative team. I love having fun. I love facing challenges. I love tough decisions. I enjoy good pranks.
Ms. Marcy, Marshel, Clevis, Mike, and Dan, thank you for giving me this opportunity. Thank you for being right there with me and working to make this the best place possible. I love each of you and will always do whatever possible to help you. You are the best! This is not goodbye, I will be a Dragon forever, my kids will be in the hallways, and I will be cheering on all things Green County.
It is time to go! Just as I felt called to lead, I sense the same call to move on. Goodbyes are hard, I am not exceptionally good at them. I intend to retire from this position effective June 30, 2026, and pursue other opportunities that might come in my direction. I am unsure about my next chapter, but I know it is time to take that next step!
I thank God for this opportunity and give Him thanks for watching over everyone during this journey. I ask for His continued shelter.
I will always be 100% green and gold! Go Dragons!
Yours truly,
William L. Hodges
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The announcement marked the end of an era for Green County Schools, where Hodges has served not only as superintendent but as a lifelong Dragon, deeply rooted in the community he was called to lead.
Following the reading of the letter, Chair of the Board Marcy Goff offered remarks on behalf of the board.
“On behalf of the Green County Board of Education, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Superintendent Will Hodges for his years of faithful and visionary leadership. Mr. Hodges has
led our district with integrity, steady resolve, and an unwavering commitment to doing what is best for our students, staff, and community.
Under his leadership, the Green County School District has experienced meaningful progress in every area. From strengthening our financial foundation and improving district facilities, to elevating student achievement and expanding opportunities in athletics and extracurricular programs, his focus has always been on moving the entire district forward. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that our schools are not only places of learning, but places of pride for our community.
Superintendent Hodges’ impact will be felt for generations. His leadership has positioned Green County Schools for continued success, and we are deeply thankful for the example he has set and the legacy he leaves behind. We wish him and his family the very best in retirement.”
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Hodges will retire after 27 years in education, a career that began in 1999 when he started teaching math at Shelby County High School. He returned home at the start of the 2000–2001 school year to join Green County High School, where he taught math, coached cross country and track and field, and later served as athletic director.
In 2008, Hodges accepted a call into school leadership, serving as assistant principal at LaRue County Middle School until 2010. That fall, he once again returned home to Green County, where he served as assistant principal at Green County Middle School.
In 2011, he was appointed the district’s Director of Finance. His leadership responsibilities expanded in the fall of 2015 when he was additionally named Assistant Superintendent.
Throughout this period Hodges also continued to coach successful cross country and track and field teams. For his contributions as both a student athlete and coach Hodges was inducted as a member of the inaugural class of the Greensburg/Green County High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. As the boys’ and girls’ cross country and track and field head coach, Will Hodges led teams to 24 regional titles, 15 in cross country and nine in track and field. Coach Hodges acquired 26 Heartland Athletic Conference titles in cross country and 18 in track and field. He has 11 individual state champions, eight as the track and field head coach, and three while serving as the boys’ distance coach.
In 2018, Hodges was selected as Superintendent following the retirement of Jim Frank.
During his tenure as superintendent, Green County Schools experienced a period of significant success and transformation. The district consistently ranked among the region’s highest performing school systems and led the state in post-secondary readiness, a key indicator measuring students’ preparedness for entering college or beginning a career upon graduation.
Under his leadership, the district made substantial investments in facilities and capital improvements, including the construction of a new high school, major renovations at the Green
County Area Technology Center, restoration of the district tennis courts, and installation of turf fields at the baseball field, softball field, and Dragon Stadium amongst other facility improvements. Hodges is also leading efforts in starting the latest facility improvement project that would impact multiple locations. The project would include erecting restrooms at the tennis courts, expanded seating, concessions, and restrooms at Dragon Stadium, and potentially the first field house at Dragon Stadium.
The district has also invested in safe transportation of students including fully replacing the district’s entire bus fleet so that every daily route is covered by air-conditioned buses.
Superintendent Hodges focused on investing in people and expanding opportunities for students. This included creating new pathways for students including Education, Engineering, HVAC, and Robotics. New athletic opportunities such as the introduction of archery, bass fishing, drama productions, e-sports, soccer, wrestling, new youth little leagues, and the re-introduction of tennis.
Hodges also guided the district through some of the most challenging moments in recent educational history, including the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting legislative mandates, and severe weather events. Through it all, the district has maintained stability and forward progress.
As he concluded in his letter, Hodges emphasized that while he may be stepping away from leadership, he will always remain connected to the district.
“I will always be 100% green and gold! Go Dragons!”
The Green County Board of Education will begin the process of planning for a leadership transition in the coming months.