Meet Amanda Hood

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Amanda Hood, newly appointed Mountain Brook High School principal, is passionate about what she does. She said she finds joy in her job every day and enjoys being able to work with students, teachers and families in the community.

No stranger to Mountain Brook Schools, Hood served as principal of Mountain Brook Junior High for the last academic year and as assistant principal at Mountain Brook High School before that.

Born and raised in Selma, she graduated from Hillcrest High School after her family relocated to Tuscaloosa. She attended Troy State University and received her Ed.S. in educational leadership at the University of Montevallo.

Hood taught math at Oak Mountain High School, where she coached cheerleading and established the ambassador program. She served as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Spain Park High School before joining Mountain Brook Schools.

Hood’s appointment came after former Principal Vic Wilson was recently named superintendent of Hartselle City Schools. Donald Clayton, who served as assistant principal at MBJH last year, has been appointed the school’s interim principal.

On her first days on the job last month, Village Living asked Hood a few questions about her passions as an educator, leader and mom.

What are you looking forward to about your new role as principal?

I have always loved high school students. I love the stage life where they are making dreams become realities, and I am excited to be a part of that.

Do you plan to implement any major changes at the high school during your first year as principal?

I think MBHS is in a great situation. We have great teachers and students and families that support us. Our goal [for the upcoming year] is to help support existing programs, making sure we are continuing to serve students for them be prepared for the future. There is always room for us to look at small improvements to do better, too.

You taught in several school systems before coming to Mountain Brook. What attracted to you take an administrative position here? What drew you to stay?

Originally one thing that drew me here was the people. I felt this was a place where I could use my strengths and talents to serve students and families.

The thing that has kept me there is how the school system has done an incredible job to encourage us to develop in our roles. They also encourage us to look forward to the future and think outside the box about what our students are going to need to be successful long-term.

Can you tell us a little about your family and what is most special to you about them?

My husband, Jerry, is a teacher and a coach, so many of our conversations center around our own children and the children we teach.

We have four children: Olivia, 14, Christian, 13, Daniel, 9, and Vica, 8. We became a family a little more than five years ago; the children are biological siblings we adopted from the Ukraine. Our family has a special story, and it is very difficult to describe. At the end of the day we are so thankful and grateful for one another.

What aspects of education are you most passionate about?

The first aspect is centered around students. At the high school level, it’s really about seeing their dreams become a reality. We create situations that empower kids to dream and provide opportunities for them to reach those dreams.

The second is working with a team of professionals who are passionate about the students they teach and passionate about each of their content areas. They also possess the need to continue to grow and develop. That is the team we have here at Mountain Brook High School, and I am grateful to work with them.