RAEFORD — During their regular board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12, the Hoke County Schools Board of Education appeared to reveal the name of their new superintendent.
In the middle of a discussion regarding the extension of interim superintendent Rodney Shotwell’s contract, board attorney Rod Malone seemed to partially name the new superintendent as a “Dr. Spells.”
Per a source, this person mentioned is actually Dr. Kenneth Spells, the superintendent at Hazel Crest 152 ½ School District in South Bend, Indiana.
Spells, who has been in his current role since 2019, has over a decade of superintendent experience, having also served as the superintendent at Alton Community Unit School District 11 in Alton, Illinois. He also has over 20 years of educational experience, having also been an elementary principal, a middle school assistant principal, a social studies teacher, an adjunct professor and a state champion basketball coach.
A Navy veteran, Spells is familiar with North Carolina and the area as he received a Bachelor of Science in History and Physical Education from Fayetteville State University and also taught social studies at Columbus County Schools in Whiteville.
As Hoke County Schools interim superintendent Rodney Shotwell’s contract was extended to the end of October, it is expected that Spells will assume the position of superintendent starting November 1.
