The Homewood Board of Education recently announced that Dr. Justin Hefner will serve as superintendent of Homewood City Schools.
Heftern, a Homewood resident, will step into the role beginning Aug. 17. He will replace Dr. Bill Cleveland who announced his retirement in February after 29 years in education.
“For 10 years my wife and I have lived and raised our children in Homewood as I truly believe it is such a special community with some of the best educators in the state. I am humbled and excited to serve the students, staff, and families of Homewood,” Hefner said.
“Dr. Cleveland leaves a tremendous legacy for the school system, and I am thankful and honored to continue the mission of Homewood City Schools.”
With 14 years of education experience, Hefner has served as a district administrator, principal, teacher, and coach. He joins the Homewood School System from Pelham City Schools where he has served as the director of teaching and learning academic officer and principal of Pelham Park Middle School.
Prior to joining Pelham City Schools, Hefner served as a teacher, mentor and instructional coach at Homewood Middle School. He was also awarded the schools’ Teacher of the Year and served on the district’s administrative cohort.
Dr. Hefner received his bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and his masters in education from Texas State University. In 2016, he earned his education specialist degree from Samford University as well as his doctorate in education. While at Samford University, he was a recipient of the Samford Learning for Life Award and served on the School Leadership Summit Committee.
He also serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of West Alabama and a leadership mentor at Samford University. In addition, he serves on multiple committees and boards, and is an active member in many professional organizations including the American Association of School Administrators’ Aspiring Superintendent’s Academy and a district representative for the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.
“I would like to thank Dr. Bill Cleveland for the culture he has created at Homewood and my fellow board members for their tireless devotion to the process we followed,” said school board president Charles Douthit.
“The Homewood community requested a specific type of leader for our school system, and I firmly believe Dr. Justin Hefner will be a strong leader for our school system for many years to come.”
