Scott Hodges Principal, Yulee Elementary School Florida Community College, Class of 1991 A.A. Degree

A Matter of Principal

Scott Hodges
Principal, Yulee Elementary School
Florida Community College, Class of 1991
Associate in Arts Degree

To some, “Nassau County” isn’t much more than a road sign on their way out of the state, while others know the county just north of Jacksonville as a hidden gem of seaside villages and beautiful beaches. To Yulee Elementary Principal Scott Hodges, it’s home — his family’s roots go back four generations in Nassau County on both his mother’s and father’s side.

Scott grew up surfing and loved the beach. So when he graduated from Fernandina Beach High School, Florida Community College was the perfect choice. “I chose FCCJ because it was close to home, and I wanted to be close to the beach,” Scott says.

Attending North, South and Kent campuses, he enjoyed the benefits of small classes. “I had a lot of interaction with my instructors and felt that I was prepared for the university level,” he says. When it came time to choose a major, Scott says, “I thought about the people who had been positive role models in my life — many of them were teachers. I wanted to have that sort of influence on others.” He got a chance to practice as an English tutor at North Campus. “It was great exposure to working with people in an educational setting,” he says.

Scott graduated from FCCJ in 1991 with his associate in arts degree and transferred to the University of North Florida, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He would later earn his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, in 2001.

Since starting his career in 1995, Scott has served the Nassau County School District in various roles as a teacher, dean, coordinator and assistant principal. He’s now in his second year as principal of Yulee Elementary School. “It’s a challenging job,” says Scott. “But I enjoy being a principal at the elementary level because the students enjoy school and learning, and it is a positive place to be.”

What makes the job of principal challenging, says Scott, is the logistics. “We basically run a small city,” he says. “We transport, feed and teach 750 students each day. Ensuring that all employees are in place, the facilities are clean and in good working order, all of the food is delivered and prepared, and that everyone is on time is a monumental effort that takes true dedication and teamwork by everyone involved. I enjoy the challenge.”

While Scott has traveled extensively, including to the surfing mecca of Costa Rica, he’s happy where he is. “I like the small town atmosphere of all of the communities and the natural beauty, from the St. Mary’s River to downtown Fernandina Beach and Cumberland Island,” he says. “Too many places are ‘cookie cutter.’ Nassau County is still holding on to the things that make it unique. I’ve been to many interesting and beautiful places in my life, but Nassau County will always be home.”