VIDEO: CASEY BOSLEY IS NAMED WRAL'S TEACHER OF THE WEEK

DR. DEBRA DOWLESS NAMED HOKE COUNTY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT

The Hoke County Board of Education has named Dr. Debra Dowless the next Superintendent of Hoke County Schools. Dr. Dowless has over 24 years of experience in public education, all of which have been in Hoke County. Her experience gives her a deep understanding of the Hoke County School System’s history and organizational culture.

Dr. Dowless previously served as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction for Hoke County Schools under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson. In this role, Dr. Dowless was responsible for developing, improving, and assessing the effectiveness of curriculum and instruction. Prior to serving in her current role, she served as the Principal of Rockfish Hoke Elementary for eight years, the Assistant Principal of Hawk Eye Elementary for two years, and an elementary teacher in Hoke County for eight years. She has been honored as the Hoke County Math Teacher of the Year, Rockfish Hoke Elementary Teacher of the Year and Hoke County Principal of the Year.

Dr. Dowless stated she is committed to equity and improving students’ academic achievement, a theme that has been shaped by her educational journey.

“We believe in the moral imperative that all students should have access to a high quality education that includes enriching academic programs, rigorous instruction, and 21st century technology. We also believe this can be realized through commitment to innovation, problem solving, alignment of resources and efforts, and above all, decision making in the best interest of students.”

Dr. Dowless has an extensive educational background having earned a Doctorate in School Leadership and a Master in School Administration from Fayetteville State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. Dr. Dowless has also broadened her knowledge through her involvement in professional organizations, including the Educational Policy Fellowship Program, The Innovation Project, and the Sandhills Regional Education Consortium.

Upon her selection, Dr. Dowless stated her appreciation for the opportunity to serve, “I am honored and humbled to have been selected to continue our story, our work, and our service to our community as the next Superintendent of the Hoke County School System.”

State Superintendent Mark Johnson Announces $10 Million in School Construction Grant to Hoke County

North Carolina Superintendent Mark Johnson has announced that $55 million in grant funds from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund will be awarded this year to school districts in Edenton-Chowan, Hoke, Robeson, and Wayne counties. The grant awards will allow for construction of new school buildings in these economically distressed areas.

“This is the fourth year these funds have been made available to benefit our students and educators who have had to deal with outdated facilities,” Johnson said. “These grants will help address our state’s need to replace old, outdated schools with better learning environments. “

Hoke County: $10 million to build the SandHoke School of Engineering. This will be a state-of-the-art facility that will include 27 classrooms/labs that will support applied studies in the field of engineering and be located on the Hoke County campus of Sandhills Community College ($28.19 million total project cost). It will also relieve overcrowding at other facilities.

“On behalf of Hoke County Schools, we thank State Superintendent Johnson for selecting our Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund 2020 Grant Application to be funded. In partnership with Sandhills Community College and Hoke County Board of Commissioners, we plan to build SandHoke School of Engineering which will offer the students of Hoke County tremendous opportunities. The SandHoke School of Engineering will provide additional college pathways for students pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree, and will also address the issue of equity by focusing efforts on encouraging our female students to pursue careers in Engineering and Computer Science. Additionally, this school will allow Hoke County Schools to address the growth of our student population while saving capital funds for future school construction projects.”

Freddie Williamson, Superintendent

Hoke County Schools

HOKE COUNTY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS LAUNCH AN ACADEMIC HELPLINE

HCS Academic Helpline

On October 5th, Hoke County middle and high school students will gain access to help on their course work through the HCS Academic Helpline. Middle school students can receive assistance Monday through Thursday from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm, while help for high school students will be available from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. The HCS Academic Helpline sessions will provide any Hoke County middle or high school student with access to homework assistance, as well as additional clarity on a course concept to improve their comprehension and college and career readiness skills from certified teachers in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Additionally, Exceptional Children and English Learner instructors will be available to provide specialized services to students who have a disability or are English language learners.

The HCS Academic Helpline will provide support to students through Zoom sessions that students can access using their school Gmail account. The Zoom meeting IDs will be accessible to all students via the district and school websites. Students will be able to log in to the Zoom session of their choice. There is no limit to students' use of Zoom each week. Students are encouraged to seek academic support through the helpline. Families may reach out to their school principal, assistant principal or school counselor with any questions or concerns.