HOOVER – The Hoover Board of Education recently approved Ron Dodson as the new assistant superintendent for instruction.

Dodson has worked with the Hoover School System for years, most recently as the director of secondary curriculum.

As the assistant superintendent for instruction, Dodson will coordinate instruction across all Hoover schools, working with administrators, teachers and other staff members on curriculum, textbooks, technology and instructional programs.

Dodson said he’s proud of Hoover schools, but he knows they can be even better.

“It’s an opportunity to help the schools get even better in terms of achievement and in terms of meeting challenges of modern times,” he said. “I want to have a better understanding of the K-12 curriculum at our schools.”

Dodson said it’s essential for today’s educators to train students to be life-long learners, especially as today’s workers change jobs and careers so often.

“I talk about relevance, helping kids be life-long learners at a time when kids will have four to five careers in their lifetimes. How do we help kids prepare for that?” he said. “That, I think, is our challenge for the next 40-50 years.”

During his career, Dodson has been a chemistry and astronomy teacher as well as an assistant principal at both Spain Park High School and Hoover High School. Dodson completed his doctorate degree in educational leadership at UAB in December 2009.