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.

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

We need to have their backs by modernizing the K-12 funding formula.
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Learn about my vision for the next four years: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html

Preparing students for life -- not a test.
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Check out my vision for the next four years: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html.

We've reduced the number of high-stakes testing at the state level, but we must also work to reduce redundant testing at the local level -- testing that takes away from precious planning time and valuable instructional time.

Check out my vision for the next four years at: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html.
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We must adopt transparency measures to assist local school districts with identifying, evaluating, and eliminating excessive testing.

Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) -- like our bus drivers --are the backbone of our schools.
We need to have their backs by modernizing the K-12 funding formula.
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Learn about my vision for the next four years: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES for students like Justin and Bianca...

I've provided $2.3+ million in new funding for CTSOs to:

• Grow existing chapters
• Establish new chapters
• Offset travel costs to competitions
• Offset membership/registration fees
• Provide stipends to advisors

We worked hard (despite a pandemic) to deliver historic pay raises for teachers -- but we cannot stop there.

The state salary scale does not provide salary step increases for beginning or veteran teachers, meaning flat pay at both ends of the teaching career -- this must change.
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Check out my vision for the next four years at: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html.

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.