Hilliard named new school superintendent

By Taelor Rye
The Dodge County Board of Education selected Thomas Michael Hilliard to succeed Dr. Melinda Dennis as the Dodge County Superintendent of Schools.

The search for a new superintendent had come down to Hilliard and Dr. Elvis B. Davis, the principal of South Dodge Elementary School.

Hilliard, currently the principal of Dodge County Middle School (DCMS), will take on the role of superintendent, effective July 1. Further personnel actions to accommodate Hilliard’s move from DCMS will be taken in the near future.

Hilliard’s early work experience includes stints in business construction. However, his curriculum vitae states, “Following college graduation, I discovered that my value system was more compatible with the educational system than the business ethos.”

Hilliard, who holds an Educational Specialist in educational leadership in addition to two master’s degrees and a bachelor’s degree – began teaching at Eastman Middle School in 1982, working with students with mild intellectual disabilities in a self-contained classroom. He took on a similar role the following year at Dublin High School in addition to coaching basketball, football and golf.

After a couple of years as a nursing home administrator at Golden Age Properties in Hawkinsville, Hilliard returned to the classroom, teaching vocational classes and coaching at Dodge County High School from 1986 to 1994. Soon after, Hilliard adopted a more administrative position within the system of education.

Before Hilliard became the principal at DCMS, a position that he has held for nearly two years, he served as a central office administrator for the Dodge County Board of Education. His specific positions under this umbrella included the district testing coordinator, the district evaluations coordinator and the pre-k director, among others.

Hilliard was also the assistant principal at North Dodge Elementary School (NDES) from 1996 to 2003 and the principal of NDES from 2003 to 2014.

Regarding his impending promotion, Hilliard stated, “I’m very humbled, very excited and very thankful, and I look forward to serving the Dodge County School System in this new role.”