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Celebrating Pine Islanders: Former PIE Principal Steven Hook

By PAULETTE LeBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com - | Nov 15, 2023

Former Pine Island Elementary School Principal Steven Hook, his wife Sue and their grandchildren with two special friends on a recent trip. PHOTO PROVIDED

The very name, Steven Hook, is synonymous with many island organizations. He is a board member of Pine Island Kiwanis Club, serves on the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Foundation board, tries to help support the work of the Beacon of Hope and, of course, is the former principal of Pine Island Elementary, where he still volunteers, just to name a few.

Hook said he is now fully retired and at this point he gets to watch his beautiful grandchildren three days a week, which allows his daughter-in-law to work. Hook originally came to work on Pine Island in 2016, when he took the job as principal of Pine Island Elementary, although he had already been involved with the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Foundation a year or two prior to that.

“We worked together on two different tournaments that happened in Cape Coral, and I met Ernestine (Holloway-Squires) and Summer Dooley and some of the people involved with the tournament and we started partnering together and I loved their mission and what they were about so I started just volunteering originally and then later became a board member,” Hook said.

The years in which he was involved with the Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Foundation gave Hook a bird’s eye view of the spirit of Pine Island. He admits the nature of the community to be giving and focused on what each could do for someone else, made Pine Island a place he wanted to be every day.

“Love thy neighbor is really shown out there, and I told Dr. Pruitt (Former superintendent of his charter school), I don’t ever really want to leave Oasis, but if Pine Island School would ever open up, I would really consider going out there. She called me and asked, if I really meant that, and it all fell into place just the way it’s supposed to,” Hook said.

From left, former PIE Principal Steven Hook, Superintendent Christopher Bernier and Principal Dr. Tom Millins at the recent community gathering at Pine Island Elementary School. PHOTO PROVIDED

When it comes to what the Pine Island community has gained from Hook’s influence, he said it’s likely his unique position to have been allowed to influence so many of the island children.

“I’m not sure I’m the only one who could offer this, but I preach to kids and to the staff and everywhere I’ve ever been that kind, caring, respectful and hardworking are the best traits to live out and put into action all the time and so I try to live those words, I try to make those words come alive at school, through bringing improvements to the school, showing love and teaching that family should come first, and that loving your neighbor does give meaning and purpose to your life,” Hook said.

In reference to his years as a teacher and principal, Hook said, school is more than a test. Teaching kids to be kind and caring is a goal for which he strived and continues to strive for regularly.

“If we teach kids to be kind and caring and respectful and hardworking, then they will contribute to the community in a far greater way than just being academically sound — we want them to be academically sound and do their best but there are two pieces to that — the kind, caring, respectful, hardworking is the other side,” Hook said.

Describing his opportunity to teach these things to children as a blessing, Hook said he was able to work in the field of education for 41 years. In every school he worked, Hook said he tried to make a point to not only know the names of his staff and students, but to get to know the important things going on in their lives as well. This act forced him to be continuously cognizant of that which was going on around him.

Hook admits his greatest wish for Pine Island is that she doesn’t lose a sense of her own identity, no matter what life brings.

“Through the hurricane and through COVID and through growth — sometimes there are changes that are happening that aren’t always necessarily the best thing, but the neighborhood, the small community the atmosphere that’s out there can be maintained even through the changing times. Change is inevitable and it’s going to happen, but if you can maintain your core values, well, that’s huge. Every now and then, it’s important to step back and realize what a special place Pine Island is. It’s cliché, but stop and smell the roses. There are so many great things and great people on the island. If you get a chance to donate, whatever it is, your time, talents or treasures. Your community is a very special community inside of Lee County and there are a lot of things you can support and help. Pine Island Strong are not just words on a T-shirt, it’s what people live,” Hook said.