Daniel Hodge is coming home.

The 2005 W.S. Neal graduate is coming back to the school as a math teacher for the 2010-2011 school year and will also join the Eagle coaching staff for football.

Hodge is certified for grades 6-12 with a degree in Secondary Education Mathematics.

“I am elated with the opportunity to teach regardless of the city or town,” Hodge said. “With that being said, I am really excited about the opportunity to come back ‘home.’ I am excited to be able to give back to a school that gave so much to me just five years ago.”

After graduation from W.S. Neal, Hodge went to Jefferson Davis Community College and graduated in May 2007. After JDCC, Hodge then went to the University of Alabama and graduated this past May with a bachelors of Science degree in secondary mathematics education.

As of now, Hodge said he will be helping with football although he is not sure in what capacity yet, and will potentially be assistant coach for track.

Hodge said just walking around the halls this past Tuesday, he realized that so much has changed since he was a student there five years ago.

“Several new teachers, new administration, and an entirely new coaching staff,” Hodge said were some of the changes he noticed since he has been gone. “The only coach that is still there is coach (Coy) Campbell. I want to thank the Board of Education for giving me this opportunity as well as the faculty and staff at W.S. Neal for welcoming me with open arms.”

Hodge said the thing that he is looking forward to the most is the chance to enable students in being better citizens in the outside world.

“As far as being a teacher at W.S. Neal, I am thrilled that I have a chance to impact local students that will help make this community a great place to live for years to come,” he said. “It does seem a little weird being at W.S. Neal. I mean just five years ago, I was walking the halls as a student, and now I will be walking them as a teacher.

“I always thought that if it were possible, I would love to come back to W.S. Neal and teach and coach. I thank God that it just so happened that there was an opening and I can have my first teaching experience at W.S. Neal.”