The Alamance-Burlington school system has hired from within to replace one of its top-ranking administrators, chief operations officer Dr. Todd Thorpe, who recently announced his intention to retire at the end of February.
School board members voted unanimously, 6-0, Monday night to hire Greg Hook, current principal at Hawfields Middle School, to succeed Thorpe as chief operations officer, starting March 1.
Hook holds degrees in textile management, marketing and business education, and a Master’s of School Administration from North Carolina State University. He worked in management at Burlington Industries from 1990 until 1997.
A 30-year resident of Alamance County, Hook had worked in management for Burlington Industries from 1990 until 1997. He initially began his career with ABSS in 1998 as a marketing and business teacher and later served as an assistant principal at several schools before becoming the principal at Hawfields Middle School in 2012.
Most recently, Hook was selected as the 2022 ABSS principal of the year.
Hook has four grown children, all of whom are ABSS graduates, he told The Alamance News this week.
“My experience is working with and managing people, being a good listener, and my knowledge of our district,” Hook said. “This is my community and has been for 30 years. Part of my success, I believe, as a principal has been a carry-over from my years in the textile industry. In that industry, we focused on processes and structures. I’ve been attentive to processes and structures in the education setting during my principalship, which I believe has contributed to our sustainable success here at Hawfields Middle. I plan to use that same methodology in this new role.”
“Greg’s knowledge of operations and his experience here in ABSS are a perfect fit for his new role,” said ABSS superintendent Dr. Dain Butler. “As we continue to complete our various bond projects and look to expand in the coming years, I’m confident he will excel as our chief operations officer.”
Hook has been given a three-year contract and an annual starting salary of $140,000.
