Running the day-to-day operations of a school system certainly doesn’t seem like an easy task, but Crenshaw County Schools Superintendent Dodd Hawthorne clearly puts in the work required.

His most recent accolade, being named finalist for District 3 2023 Superintendent of the Year, cements his status among his peers, and winning the award would bring a positive light to any work he’s helped accomplish.

Sometimes, he has had to make unpopular decisions – most recently, the dismissal of former Highland Home head coach Johnny Mitchell back in August. But judging by the volume of positive feedback via The Luverne Journal’s Facebook page, he’s got his share of fans and supporters, too.

Being a leader is a truly unenviable task. Leaders are tasked with ensuring jobs that are often as rewarding as they are thankless are completed, either by rolling up their sleeves and getting it done themselves, or by properly delegating personnel and resources to meet objectives.

Whether you like the job Hawthorne has done or not, his peers within his field have clearly made known his efforts are worthy of recognition.

Any wins and honors earned by Hawthorne are also victories for the Board of Education, the school system, the faculty, the students, and the Crenshaw County community as a whole.

Congratulations to Superintendent Hawthorne, and may you represent all the aforementioned well.