‘It’s been an adventure’

Dana Hodges has seen the student body at William Monroe High School grow from about 400 to about 850 in the last 34 years.
Now that she is retiring at the end of this school year, she is taking a look back, and would like to see more parental involvement ahead.
But what parents need to do, says Hodges, is “get involved … go to their activities … join parent-teacher organizations … you will be astounded by the talent these kids have.“ 
And these days, she adds:  “There is a lack of respect now. Teachers are scared to correct the kids and scared not to. We don’t give them the freedom to fail and we don’t expect them to take responsibility for their actions.“
Hodges hails from Hurt, Virginia, a little place between Lynchburg and Danville. Following her graduation from Gretna High School, she married Donald Hodges, an airman just back from Vietnam.
By 1972 Donald was out of the Air Force and had become a Virginia State Trooper. In 1975, when he was assigned to Greene County, the Hodges settled in Ruckersville. In August, Dana found work as a substitute teacher at WMHS.
Two years later, she was offered the job of registrar, a position she has held for more than 30 years.
It has been Hodges’ responsibility to register and withdraw students, mail out transcripts for scholarships and to colleges, and to respond to all other requests for transcripts
But she has done much more.
“I was senior class sponsor for 10 years, a cheerleading sponsor for six years and a student council association sponsor for three years,“ explains Hodges. “I have been a leader of 4H programs and to 4H camp as an advisor.“
And it wasn’t for the money.
“I worked for 20 years before my income got into the double digits,“ she says. “I made enough to pay for a babysitter.“
Her heart went out to those students who were not shown much attention at home, and those from split families.
“God led me here because I love kids and have a heart for that,“ she says.
“This has not been a career for me,“ adds Hodges. “It’s been an adventure. And my biggest reward has been knowing I’ve done something to help kids be successful.“