Hal served as president/CEO of the Child Protection Center, Inc., from 1989-1998, and then returned to the agency from 2002 through 2010. In 2012, he received the Children’s Guardian Fund Lifetime of Child Advocacy Award.
Dr. Hedley has 40 years of experience in education and nonprofit management. His career began in 1970 in Virginia, where he worked as an educator, coach, administrative intern, and principal of several elementary and high schools. He moved to Sarasota in 1986 where he served as executive director of the Guardian ad Litem Program (1986-1989), executive director for Special Athlete Boosters, and director of Lifelink Child and Family Services. He also worked with Jewish Family and Children’s Services and Loveland Center, and served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Education at Manatee Community College.
Dr. Hedley completed his bachelor’s degree in sociology at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Va., received his master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Richmond in Virginia, and graduated with a doctorate of education from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
Dr. Hedley has been honored with many awards recognizing his advocacy of children, including most recently, the Florida Dependency Summit Twelfth Judicial Circuit Leadership Award in 2007 and the Special Olympics Sarasota County Coach of the Year in 2010.