Journal of Rural Educational Leadership Editorial Team
H. H. (Buddy) Hooper Jr., Ed.D.
Co-Editor
Associate Professor
Core Faculty Member for the Ed.D. Program
Dr. Hooper is an Associate Professor and faculty member of the Ed.D. program. He has 30 plus years of rural experience as a secondary teacher, principal (all-levels), superintendent in Texas and Kansas, and department chair/doctoral program director. Additionally, he has been actively involved in the American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES) as well as serving as “Chair” for the organization in 2013-2014. ACRES is an organization committed to the enhancement of services to students and individuals living in rural America. Dr. Hooper earned his Ed.D. from Texas A&M University – Commerce with strands in educational leadership, higher education, and agriculture. His published research has centered on rural leadership and rural leadership traits with an emphasis on district level leadership in the public school and higher education settings. Additionally, he has experience traveling to other countries like India, Chile, Taiwan, and Mexico to conduct rural research and provide professional development. His most recent work includes serving as a university professor as well as a school administrator in the rural Alaskan Bush. He teaches courses related to higher education and leadership.
Dr. Janet Hindman
Co-Editor
Professor in Educational Leadership
Dr. Hindman received both her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Secondary Education (English and Art) and Master of Art (M.A.) in English (with a Minor in Art) from West Texas State University. First beginning her doctoral work on a Ph.D. of English at the University of North Texas, Hindman later transferred to Texas Tech University to earn her doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) in 2010 with English as a Related Field.
Hindman is Director of the Ed.D. Program in Higher Education. Joining the Terry B Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences in 2012 and prior to her appointment, Hindman achieved over 35+ years in practical field experience in Texas public schools, including 28 years of teaching and coaching in nine different school systems, as an education specialist for a regional service center, and assistant superintendent in a suburban school district. Hindman served on two Adoption Review Panels for the Texas Education Agency for state adoptions of Language Arts materials for Texas teachers. Upon receiving her principal certification, Dr. Hindman’s career has enabled her to work with hundreds of principals, superintendents, teachers, students, their families, and educational leaders across the broad spectrum of education and rural settings.
Dr. Hindman has led as advisor and co-counselor of Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education for over ten years, served as a member of the Finance Committee for WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World, and continues to support the National Writing Project. For leadership in public education, Hindman has held leadership roles as assistant superintendent, director of curriculum and instruction, special/federal, and gifted and talented programs, grant writer, district testing coordinator, homeless liaison, and as an education specialist.
Dr. Hindman’s proudest professional achievements include being appointed as a Fulbright Scholar to Japan.
Dr. Hindman’s research interests includes leadership in higher education, rural education, and innovation. Hindman is a current member of American Educational Research Association (AERA), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), BIRKMAN International Inc., Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE), Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Panhandle School Leaders Association (PSLA), Phi Delta Kappa (PDK), Shane Hall Financial Advisory Council, Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), Texas Association of Teacher Educators (TXATE), Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA), Texas Council of Professors in Educational Administration (TCPEA), and the University Council of Educational Leadership (UCEA).
Dr. Eddie Henderson
Associate Editor
Myrna Raffkind Professor of Global Education
Dr. Henderson is the Myrna Raffkind Professor of Global Education and Director of the Public School (EC-12) Pathway within the West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) Doctor of Educational Leadership program.
Dr. Henderson served as the Dean of the WTAMU Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences beginning in 2006 until August 2023 establishing himself as one of the longest serving College of Education Deans in The Texas A&M University System and in the State of Texas. Prior to joining WTAMU, Dr. Henderson was a Senior Vice President and Market Executive for the Bank of America Private Bank, Boatman’s Trust Company of Texas, and The First National Bank of Amarillo.
Prior to entering the banking profession, Dr. Henderson was a shareholder in the Amarillo law firm of Underwood, Wilson, Berry, Stein and Johnson, P.C. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and has many years of experience representing public school districts and educational institutions, including representing WTAMU in its merger with The Texas A&M University System. Prior to earning his law degree, he was an Educational Diagnostician and Master Teacher in the Lubbock Independent School District where he taught children with significant cognitive and emotional disabilities.