The Federal Hocking Local School District is pleased to announce that Dr. George Wood will be returning to the district to serve as interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year.
Dr. Wood, or “Doc” as many students know him, retired from the district in 2021 after serving for twenty-eight years as high school principal, superintendent, and administrative coach. While he was principal, our high school received an Ohio Venture Schools grant, an Ohio’s Best Award, and recognition as a Coalition of Essential Schools Mentor School. As superintendent, Doc directed the final steps of getting district out of Fiscal Emergency and, with the support of the Board, put full time art, music, PE teachers and guidance counselors in our elementary schools.
Along with his wife, Marcia Burchby, Doc Wood lives in Amesville, right next to Amesville Elementary School. His sons, Michael and John, and his foster son, Ivan Marshall, all attended Federal Hocking Schools. Marcia was a kindergarten teacher at Amesville Elementary for nearly 30 years.
Doc Wood was asked to step in for the coming school year after the Board decided that, when the past superintendent left in July, there was not sufficient time to do a full search for a replacement. With the experienced Wood in place, the Board can turn its full attention to searching for a superintendent with the help of the community, staff, and students. If a new superintendent is found during the school year, Doc Wood will help transition that individual into place as soon as is possible.
When asked about his return to the district, Doc Wood said “I am happy to be able to rejoin a strong staff and great student body in a district where I had so many good experiences. I hope we will have a year of peaceful progress and then be ready to hand off this special place to the next superintendent. I appreciate the trust and confidence the Board has placed in me.”