Houston County schools accepting applications after board member resigns

The Houston County Board of Education is seeking a new member to fill a vacant seat after board member Helen Hughes recently announced her resignation.

The district launched the application process Tuesday to fill the Post 5 seat held by Hughes, whose last day after 17 years with the Houston County School District will be on March 31, according to officials.

The selected representative will serve the remainder of Hughes’ term until December 2028.

District officials shared the announcement Tuesday afternoon on Facebook and encouraged the school community to thank Hughes for her “remarkable service” to the area.

“We are deeply grateful for her years of leadership and dedication to public education,” the district wrote. “As she begins a new chapter, she looks forward to spending more time with her family and enjoying life with her new grandbaby.”

In a Facebook post to her personal account , Hughes said while the time has come for her to “step aside and allow new voices to lead,” her faith in the district’s future has not waned.

“Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated milestones, strengthened our schools, and most importantly, supported generations of students as they discovered their potential and prepared for their futures,” Hughes wrote Wednesday . “To have played even a small role in that journey is a privilege I will always cherish.”

Hughes was unanimously appointed to the Post 5 seat in 2009 following the death of former Houston County Board of Education member Pamela Greenway, according to The Telegraph archives.

In the Facebook post, Hughes said she began her role in the district with a simple purpose to serve students and has since witnessed dedication from educators and resilience from students.

“Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your shared commitment to excellence in education. Though I am resigning from this role, I will always remain an advocate for our students and a proud supporter of our schools,” Hughes said.

Taking applications

Tuesday afternoon, the Houston County Board of Education unanimously approved starting the process of filling Hughes’ vacant seat.

Applications and documents will be accepted until 4 p.m. March 20.

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for board of education service, officials said.

Georgia law requires local school board members to live in their district, follow ethics and conflict-of-interest rules, and prohibits individuals employed by the school system, serving on the state board, or with close family in key school leadership positions from serving.

Elected board members are also required to complete annual state-mandated trainings.

Applicants must submit their resume and letters of interest to Claudia McDaneil, the district’s administrative assistant to Superintendent Richard Rodgers, via email, drop off or mail.

Documents can be emailed to claudia.mcdaniel@hcbe.net or mailed to the attention of Claudia McDaniel at 1100 Main Street, Perry, GA 31069. Applications may be dropped off in-person at 1100 Main Street in Perry.

Qualified residents who submitted their applications by the deadline may address the board at its upcoming work session at 6 p.m. April 6 at Northside Middle School.

Each qualified resident will have three minutes to speak during the meeting.

“We appreciate the community’s continued interest and support as this process moves forward,” the district said.

This story was originally published March 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM.