Angie Hood teaches English part-time at Calhoun Community College, Huntsville campus and previously taught at New Mexico and Ohio state universities. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Angie Hood was only six weeks old when her family moved from Rantoul, Ill. to Germany. By high school graduation, Angie had moved 26 times.

As an Army brat, Angie lived in Frankfurt, Germany; San Francisco, Calif.; and Columbus, Ga. “Madison has always felt more personal. It’s so nice to find people we know when we’re out and about in town,” Angie said.

The Hood family relocated from Las Cruces, N.M. in 1990 to live closer to relatives. “I’m so thankful we did. Madison was a wonderful place to raise our two children,” Angie said.

The Hoods have volunteered frequently and praise Madison’s library, parks and schools. “We even bought used jet skis. The kids loved going down to the river, just 11 miles from our house,” Angie said.

After graduating from Auburn University, she earned a master’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University, where she met future husband John. He was engineer for the broadcast lab, where she was teaching assistant. They recently celebrated their 33rd anniversary.

Their son Alex and wife Patsy live in Montgomery. Alex earned a master’s degree in public administration and works for an ambulance company. Daughter Kate Robbins and husband Daniel live in Madison. Kate earned a bachelor’s degree at University of South Alabama, now is in seminary and works as a HEMSI paramedic.

“Our children married ten months apart, so we learned a lot about putting on weddings!” Angie said.

“My passion for 17 years has been helping families who have children with dyslexia,” Angie said. She started a dyslexia support group, was instrumental in creating Alabama’s branch of International Dyslexia Association and served on Greengate School Board of Directors.

“Our son Alex was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade. When I realized how little was known about dyslexia by the public, and how much parents needed support, I had to share what I had learned,” Angie said.

At Asbury United Methodist Church, she volunteers with children’s ministries, is an altar prayer partner and helped start Kids’ Church. Angie has volunteered with Masonic youth organizations, like DeMolay and judged speech/debate tournaments and writer’s contests.

She teaches English part time at Calhoun Community College, Huntsville campus and taught composition at New Mexico and Ohio state universities. “This semester, I’m teaching English 101 composition at Limestone Correctional Facility. My students are very eager to learn.”

John is a senior engineer with Northrop Grumman.

Their pets are 16.5-year-old Milly, a Bichon Frise; 11-year-old rescue cat Miri; ‘grand-dog’ Theodore; and foster cat White Lightning. Angie supports Friends of Rescue.

An aficionado of classical music, Angie listens to The Piano Guys and likes contemporary Christian music.

Mangia and Tenders are two favorite eateries. “Madison’s restaurant scene has grown leaps and bounds. Now, if we can just get that movie theater, we won’t have to go far for a fun date,” Angie said.