“I really pride myself on success, and if I’m good at something, I love it.” -- Luke
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Through the Georgia Scholar program, the Georgia Department of Education identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life.

Read article: ​https://www.dailycitizen.news/news/local_news/northwest-high-georgia-scholar-has-no-regrets/article_c5f051a6-ca16-11ec-a989-53c24fac2353.html?fbclid=IwAR38trAO9UTiXXHbucuLt1YuEQhC97wk1RjYoHh80YVJxi58pviivqsdkok

Honored to be THE ONLY CANDIDATE ENDORSED by Georgia Educators.
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"Richard has shown a heart of an educator, never forgetting what it was like to be a classroom teacher. His proven leadership is needed now more than ever.”

Under my leadership, we worked with the Georgia Economic Developers Association - GEDA to develop the Economic Development Partnership designation -- recognizing school districts who form strong partnerships with local business and industry and who rapidly respond to workforce needs.
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Congrats to Barrow County School System, Bulloch County Schools, Fannin County School System, Floyd County Schools, Georgia, Hall County School District, and Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.

Read article: https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-education-k12/six-georgia-school-districts-selected-to-receive-fy-22-economic-development-partnership-designation/?fbclid=IwAR019aCErfLHAxbatlM2UPRkqF_Th0KvjX-UW1bbb4su4UGCkEoZt49WTWY

My deep appreciation for the heroic actions of the students at Rome City Schools - Rome, GA.
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"Treyvon Adams, Tyson Brown, Antwion Carey, Alto Moore, and Cesar Parker, along with classmate Messiah Daniels, helped pull a 50-year-old woman from her car after it was hit outside their high school in Rome"

Read article: ​https://www.yahoo.com/news/hurry-georgia-high-school-football-170920299.html?guccounter=1

Last year, students at Druid Hills were learning in a crumbling school building with dangerous conditions. Together, we fought to turn the situation around -- this week, Druid Hills students came back to real change!
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We're working across DeKalb to ensure ALL students in ALL schools are able to learn in a quality environment.

Read article: ​https://www.ajc.com/education/dispatches-from-druid-hills-students-note-changes-at-the-high-school/AH45MZPNSFASDKHE7NTREUW72E/?fbclid=IwAR1syodUhgF2atMui2_gC9QpRzHqpofl6h6IafPxAK0c-QDPuhYujTUBuSQ

Many schools are starting back this week with hallways and classrooms full of the potential of students and passion of educators!

We've got this!

Hands-on, relevant learning that reinforces foundational skills and opens doors to opportunity.
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We're building on the new elementary Construction and Agricultural programs by expanding elementary CTAE opportunities across all career clusters.

View article:​ https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-education-k12/georgia-doe-to-expand-career-technical-and-agricultural-education-into-elementary-grades/?fbclid=IwAR2TB4Qoj9vySXrAmJCUtCO67elbPZas0xCBB9b3p_Tfmq-5sRTZluqZIaQ

Georgia Educators – watch your email inbox during August & September!
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Partnering with Governor Brian Kemp, we’re issuing another round of $125 classroom grants.

The current evaluation system demoralizes teachers and doesn't professionalize them.

We need a system that supports teachers throughout their careers -- from beginning teacher to teacher leader.
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Check out my vision for the next four years at: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html.

Creating customized pathways to graduate = students with diplomas + acceptance letters .
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Check out my vision for the next four years at: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html.

We must develop a evaluation system that provides clear, personalized pathways of supports and opportunities at every step of a teacher's career -- from beginning teacher to teacher leader.
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Learn more: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html

Partnering with Governor Brian Kemp and lawmakers, we provided $69 million for new security cameras, doors, keypads, vestibules, and other school upgrades.

I worked with two Governors to pass laws to lower the number of high-stakes tests – leading to the largest reduction of high-stakes testing in our state’s history.

But we cannot stop there.
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WE MUST: Establish a new federal testing minimum with grade band testing – once in elementary, once in middle, and once in high – with no-stakes, formative tools in the “off years” so teachers can remediate/accelerate learning.

Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) -- like our paraprofessionals -- are the backbone of our schools.

We need to have their backs by modernizing the K-12 funding formula.
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Learn more: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html

Partnering with the Georgia Economic Developers Association - GEDA, I created the Economic Development Partnership designation for school districts.
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This robust certification process ensures our school districts have a strong relationship with local business and industry while providing high-demand, high-wage CTAE pathways.

Georgia districts earn $0 in state funds for School Resource Officers meaning our schools must use other means for these essential positions.

My vision for the modernization of our K-12 funding formula includes adding a line item for SROs.
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Learn more: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html

Partnering with other state agencies, we're scaling up resources and training to keep our students and staff safe.
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"Obviously, my first priority is safety, but I think a very close runner-up to that is the relationship you build with kids at a young age." -- Rick Carter, School Resource Officer in Madison County.

Hands-on, relevant learning that reinforces foundational skills and opens doors to opportunity.

We must build on the new elementary Construction and Agricultural programs by expanding elementary CTAE opportunities across all career clusters.

Learn more about my vision for the next 4 years: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html
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Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education

Partnering with Governor Brian Kemp and lawmakers, we passed legislation to allow retired teachers to return to work in high needs areas -- without jeopardizing their retirement.
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This common sense measure is a strong first step to strengthen the teacher pipeline.

Our K-12 funding formula only provides funding for paraprofessionals in Kindergarten -- we need parapros across the early grades!

Check out my vision for the next four years at: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html.
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Funding additional parapros would lower class sizes, allow educators to spend more one-on-one time with their students, and ensure stronger literacy/numeracy skills for our kids.

Under my leadership, we've rapidly responded to regional workforce needs by developing customized CTAE pathways.

We partnered with local school districts and business and industry in SE Georgia to develop a Heavy Equipment pathway -- opening doors to high demand, high wage careers.

Construction Ready

Under my leadership, Georgia has seen record high graduation rates – rates that held steady despite disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Learn about my record: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/results.html

We recently launched the Georgia Center for School Safety (https://www.gacss.org/).

Partnering with GEMA/Homeland Security, we are providing schools with access to trainings, resources, and more.
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School safety isn't as easy as adopting a quick fix or chasing fads -- it's rolling up our sleeves and working with local leaders in support of a comprehensive approach.