REAL RESULTS.
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Richard Woods has a strong track record of achieving real results for Georgia’s students, parents, and teachers.
Standing Up for Children
Superintendent Woods has worked across the aisle and across the state to keep the focus on our kids. He’s stood up against those who wish to reduce our children to test scores, data points, and percentiles -- understanding all children have names, hopes, dreams, passions, and limitless potential. |
Elevating Our Educators
From providing all teachers and staff a one-time $1,000 bonus during the pandemic to delivering the full teacher pay raise, Superintendent Woods has always had the backs of Georgia's teachers. As a veteran educator, he will always fight to protect TRS and let our teachers teach. |
Empowering Parents
Superintendent Woods believes schools belong to their communities. Parents must be heard – not targeted. He’s worked with policymakers to establish consistent and transparent processes for parents to play an active role in their child’s education – being true partners with educators and schools. |
Eliminating Common Core
Superintendent Woods is completely eliminating Common Core, ensuring Georgia owned and Georgia grown standards for all students. These new standards were written by Georgia teachers to support traditional math methods and encourage parents to be part of their child's education. |
Keeping Students and Staff Safe
From increasing School Resource Officers to increasing mental health resources, Superintendent Woods continues to prioritize school safety. He’s launched the Center for School Safety, delivered $69 million to “harden” school facilities, and continues to coordinate closely with public safety. |
Fighting Against High-stakes Tests
Superintendent Woods spearheaded efforts that led to the largest reduction of high-stakes testing in our state's history. He's shortened the tests, pushed testing to the end of the school year, and provided free, formative tools to protect valuable instructional time and foster learning. |
Enhancing Technical Skills
A strong champion for technical education, Superintendent Woods has worked to expand opportunities and outcomes for students. His efforts have led to a 97% graduation rate among Georgia students who complete CTAE pathways, empowering them to thrive in high demand fields. |
Expanding Fine Arts
Superintendent Woods is committed to supporting creativity and the arts. He established the first DOE fine arts team, created STEAM and arts integration school certifications, updated decades old state courses, and provided tens of thousands of dollars in grants for fine arts in schools. |
Increasing Literacy Rates
Under Superintendent Woods, Georgia beats the nation in SAT and ACT for reading and writing. He's provided historic levels of literacy funding for schools, expanded vision and screening for students, and provided direct coaching and resources in structured literacy, dyslexia, and cursive writing. |
Raising Graduation Rates
Superintendent Woods spearheaded efforts that yielded record high graduation rates. He's pushed for the creation of multiple diploma pathways -- pathways that prepare students for their post-secondary pursuits -- universities, technical colleges, the military, or entering the workforce. |
Renewing Rural Georgia
Growing up and teaching in rural Georgia, Superintendent Woods knows the opportunities of rural schools. He’s made historic investments that will increase connectivity, strengthen the teacher pipeline, and expand academic opportunities for all by creating the Office of Rural Education. |
Standing Up to Washington
Superintendent Woods has always put Georgia students and educators first. From eradicating the failed federal reforms of Race to the Top to pushing back on Duncan and DeVos against high-stakes testing, Woods has fought back -- and won -- against Washington overreach. |
Growing STEM & STEAM
Superintendent Woods believes that STEM/STEAM and computer science opportunities are vital to engaging learners. He’s created STEM/STEAM positions in rural Georgia to increase the number of certified schools and provided equipment, supplies, and funding to maximize relevant offerings for all students. |
Supporting Military Families
Growing up in a military family, Superintendent Woods understands the challenges facing these families. He's created a DOE Military Family Liaison position to provide direct support to military families and Military Flagship school certification to support schools in collaborating with their local military bases. |
