Derek Hood

Derek Hood began his term on the AISD Board of Trustees in May 2020.

Hood graduated from Abilene High School in 1986, where he lettered in football and track and field. He won the Golden A Award as a senior and was the co-editor of the AHS yearbook, the Flashlight. He graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education.

Hood spent 11 years in public education as a teacher and coach in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Ector County, and Keller school districts. He also spent 15 years coaching track and field and cross country at the high school and college levels. He was at Bethany College from 1999-2000 and was the head cross country coach and associate head track and field coach at ACU from 2005-08, while his brother, Don D. Hood, served as the head track and field coach. Hood led the men’s cross country team to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships (2006-2007), and he was selected as the 2007 National Coach of the Year.

He comes from a family of educators: his mother, Betty Ann, taught in the AISD Head Start program, and his father, Don W., was a high school teacher/coach before becoming a collegiate head track and field coach. He won 10 team national championships at ACU. His brothers, Joel and Don D. Hood, have served as public education teachers and coaches.

He is married to Lex Ann, a high school science teacher. Their three children – Aubrie, Morgan, and Hayden – are all graduates of ACU. Currently employed by NextEra Energy Resources as the Director of Land Services, Hood has been heavily involved in the Abilene community, serving as the President of Frontier Texas! Executive Board and is the chair-elect of the Abilene Sports Alliance. He is also a member of the Abilene Cactus Lions Club. He completed the AISD Ambassador Academy in 2020. Hood and his wife are members at Hillcrest Church of Christ, serving as class leaders.