CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Eastern Hancock School Board has chosen a new superintendent, George Philhower.
After interviewing several candidates for the position, the school board unanimously approved Philhower as its choice at its meeting on Monday, May 10. Philhower is the current superintendent of Western Wayne schools, a small public school district in Wayne County. Its flagship school is Lincoln High School/Middle School in Cambridge City.
Previously, he served in other administrative capacities in the district, and he began his career as a special-education teacher. He holds educational specialist and Ph.D. degrees from Indiana State University.
A Hancock County resident, Philhower said Eastern Hancock is a good fit because it is closer to home. It’s also similar to the small, rural character of Western Wayne. He currently lives in Greenfield with his wife, Taylor, and two children, Ryleigh and Elijah.
The board previously approved a contract for the new superintendent with the starting salary of $117,000.
Philhower will begin working in June, overlapping with the corporation’s retiring superintendent, Dave Pfaff, in order to learn more about the position from him.
“Mr. Pfaff has been wonderful throughout this whole process,” Philhower said. “I’ve got big shoes to fill, I know.”