Haywood Hand graduated from James Madison University in 1983 with a B.S. in Physical Education and a minor in Special Education. He remained at JMU to serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Kinesiology Department from 1984-1986. Haywood fulfilled his teaching assistantship and graduated from JMU with a MS. Ed. in Physical Education and Higher Education in 1986. In 2004, he earned a M. Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Lynchburg College and completed his doctoral coursework in Organizational Leadership from Shenandoah University in 2010.
Haywood is actively serving in his 30th year as a public school educator. He has served in various capacities in Buena Vista City Public Schools, Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Amherst County Public Schools, and Rockbridge County Public Schools. Haywood has served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal, principal, and supervisor of secondary education during his 30-year tenure. For the past 12 years, he served as principal of Parry McCluer High School, Amherst County High School and Rockbridge County High School. In addition, he has served as chairman of the Pioneer District, Seminole District, Blue Ridge District and Vice-Chair of Region 3A West of the Virginia High School League. Haywood currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Rockbridge County Public Schools.
Beyond his service in the public education, Haywood has served as a deacon at Harrisonburg Baptist Church and Buena Vista Baptist Church. He has also taught Sunday school to middle school age children and senior adults for many years. Haywood is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Rockbridge Area YMCA where he will begin 2018 as the Campaign Chair. He removed himself from public education to delve into private enterprise as owner and operator of his landscaping company, Spread by Hand, LLC, in Harrisonburg, VA, for several years. Haywood is a cancer survivor and has been labeled a local ambassador for Relay for Life events in Rockbridge County, Amherst County, and Virginia Tech.
Haywood and his wife, Kimberly, have been married for 33 years. Kimberly is also a two-time graduate of JMU, 1986 and 1990. They have two children, a son, Brennan, and his wife Danielle and daughter McKynlee; and a daughter, Logan and her husband Peter. Haywood and Kimberly reside in Buena Vista, Virginia and have a second residence in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where they enjoy long walks on the beach and spending quality time with family, friends, and their golden retriever, Maddie.
