The balloons, family, cake and accolades were all for Hooker, as it turns out, who was named Georgia Principal of the year on Wednesday by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. Nominated by the district among middle and high school principals, Hooker will go on to represent Georgia in September in Washington, D.C., when the national Principal of the Year will be named.

Melton Callahan, executive director of the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals, arrived at Clarke Central in secret, along with Superintendent Philip Lanoue and a host of family and friends to crash the staff meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Even the teachers in the media center didn't know what was up, until officials crashed Hooker's slideshow presentation to present him with the award.

Hooker, who has been principal at Clarke Central since 2008, was quick to pass on praises to his staff and students at the school.

"I think this is definitely recognition for the school," he said later, during the reception in his honor. "We're making things better for the students every day. … I love what I do."

But teachers at Clarke Central said they're not too surprised to learn of Hooker's recognition. Mike Holland, a physical science teacher and football coach, said when he saw the balloons come through the door during the staff meeting, he immediately remembered Hooker's nomination.

"I love working for him because you can tell he really cares about you," Holland said. Math teacher and fellow football coach Aaron Cavin agreed. "That man puts up with more than I can ever imagine."

Callahan said Hooker's nomination originally came from the school district, along with an application from Hooker detailing his school's successes. During his time at Clarke Central, the school has been named among the top 7 percent of schools across the country in the Washington Post's High School Challenge, according to the school district, and the high school is regularly named an Advanced Placement Honor School by the Georgia Department of Education.

Lanoue noted the importance of strong leaders like Hooker in schools, which are critical for their success. "People recognize the quality of work of principals; leadership is critical to school performance," he said. "And to be able to do what he's done here, it's outrageous, really."