The Cameron ISD Board of Trustees hired Dr. George Willey as new assistant superintendent April 30 to replace Perry Bell, who has accepted the superintendent position at Gause ISD.

Willey is currently the Director of Student Programs for the Copperas Cove ISD, and will begin working part time with the district until he is released from his current contract in June, Willey said.

“I agreed to work (in Copperas Cove) until June, Willey said. “I’m hoping to (be here fulltime) by June 1.”

As assistant superintendent, Willey’s responsibilities will include directing the district’s instructional, curriculum and technology services, and to plan, implement and evaluate the district’s instructional programs to students and teachers.

“I just think right now, it’s important for me to assess the district and learn what things are working for the students, and what needs the students have,” Willey said.

Willey, a native of Louisiana, served as the principal at Coppers Cove High School and has served as an instructor in the Region X11 Principal Certification Program. Before becoming a principal at Copperas Cove, he was an assistant principal in the Lake Travis and Round Rock school districts, and a teacher in Carthage and Round Rock.

“He stood out as the outstanding individual,” Superintendent Rodney Fausett said. “He’s a family person. He’s family oriented and that means a lot to me.”

Willey, his wife Rose and children Mary-Catherine, 10, and Blake, 1, currently live in Salado, but plans to move here by the end of the summer, he said.

“I just really enjoyed my interview,” Willey said. “I knew about 10 or 15 minutes into my interview that I wanted to come to Cameron. I knew that Cameron has a lot of pride and I’m thankful to be a part of that.”