Partnering with the Georgia Economic Developers Association - GEDA, I created the Economic Development Partnership designation for school districts.
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. 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.
"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 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.
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. 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. 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. Learn about my vision for the next four years: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html Preparing students for life -- not a test.
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. 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. 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:
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. 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. We must develop customized diploma pathways that support the postsecondary goals of each and every child -- whether it's attending a college or university, going straight into the workforce, or serving in the military.
Check out my vision for the next four years at: https://www.woodsforsuper.com/vision.html. Glad to join public safety officials, school leaders, and community partners at our annual Georgia School Safety Conference – great training, information, and collaboration happening.
To keep our students and staff safe, it takes a comprehensive approach – increasing school resource officers and mental health resources, ensuring facilities are secure, fostering strong relationships between students and educators, and constantly coordinating resources and supports across state agencies and non-profits. Here is both my dad and me shortly after my birth. It was a great privilege to have him by my side for 58 years. I miss him greatly but he provided me with a lifetime of wonderful memories.
In 2015, I initiated a survey of Georgia educators to address the Teacher Dropout Crisis.
Together, we decreased testing, increased pay, added the Georgia Teacher of the Year to the State Board, and reformed TKES. But our work isn’t finished! Months ago, I charged our Georgia Teacher of the Year with pulling together some of the state’s top teachers and representatives from the state’s teacher groups to form a Teacher Burnout Task Force. Together, we’ll take action to address Teacher Burnout head on. Though tragic events often serve as stark reminders of why we must continue to prioritize the safety of our students and staff, our work is -- and has always been -- a daily commitment.
We constantly collaborate and coordinate with GEMA, Homeland Security, public safety, as well as other state agencies and non-profits to provide quality trainings, expand resources, enhance mental health supports, and harden school facilities. 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. Tonight, we won.
Results won over rhetoric. Substance won over soundbites. Personal conviction won over political ambition. Tonight’s victory isn’t about me – it’s about us. It’s not about State School Superintendent – it’s about our students, parents, and educators. Earning 801,000+ votes and winning every county – it’s more than just Georgians sending a strong message, but about them delivering a clear mandate for the changes they want to see in our education system. As we turn the page on the Primary, I look to the future and setting a vision for our state and its schools – let’s get to work! Tonight was just the beginning. Together, we’re going to win this! -- Richard Glad to join Governor Brian Kemp and state legislators today for the signing of the FY23 state budget:
✅Fulfilling the promised $5k teacher pay raise ✅Fully funding K-12 education Our solid economic footing will ensure we can continue to build on the work we've started: modernizing the funding formula and extending step increases throughout the teacher salary scale. Richard Woods knows all students need to know how to manage money and budgets, build their credit, understand pay stubs and tax forms, and pursue an affordable postsecondary path.
He's led efforts in Georgia to require strong personal finance and financial literacy education for all Georgia students. |