UTSA alumnus Brian Woods ’98, ’12 named Texas Superintendent of the Year

(Oct. 2, 2018) – UTSA alumnus and Northside ISD Superintendent Brian Woods '98, '12, a longtime educator and vocal advocate for public education, has been named the best superintendent in the state by the Texas Association of School Boards.

The announcement of Dr. Woods’ selection as the statewide Superintendent of the Year was made Friday afternoon in Austin at the joint convention for TASB and the Texas Association of School Administrators. Earlier this year, Woods was named the Region 20 Superintendent of the Year and then selected as one of five finalists.

"I am overwhelmed by this honor," Dr. Woods said. "It's really a recognition of the thousands of Northside employees and all that they do for students."

This is the second time that Northside ISD can boast having the state Superintendent of the Year. Dr. John Folks, currently a senior lecturer in the UTSA College of Education and Human Development, claimed the honor in 2011.

Dr. Woods has been an educator for 26 years beginning his career in Northside in 1992 as a social studies teacher at Marshall High School. Woods then helped open O’Connor High School as an Assistant Principal. He was later named Vice Principal and Principal at Clark High School. Dr. Woods has also worked in Northside as Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Administration and Deputy Superintendent.

"It takes lots of people to make NISD the successful school district that it is, but the man at the helm provides the leadership, inspiration and guidance needed to be successful," NISD Board President M’Lissa Chumbley said. "People all around Texas know about Northside ISD and they know about our quality leader.”

Dr. Woods also is recognized throughout the state for his leadership and advocacy of issues that affect all public school children in Texas. Throughout the last legislative session, Dr. Woods made regular trips to Austin, often daily, to testify on the impact of legislation to Texas school districts, both large and small. He also spent hours on the phone and in Austin, talking one-on-one with legislators about the very real repercussions of a drastic reduction in education funding.

“We are so proud of Dr. Woods, his leadership and his passion for our students,” Chumbley said.

Candidates for Superintendent of the Year are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving the quality of education in their school districts, commitment to public support, involvement in education and ability to build good employee relations among teachers and staff members.

Dr. Woods has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree and doctorate in educational leadership from UTSA.

He serves as Vice President of the Texas Association of School Administrators and is a past Chair of the Regional Advisory Executive Committee for Education Service Center, Region 20. He is a member of the Go Public Steering Committee, the Board of P16Plus Council of Greater Bexar County, and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as President of the Board of Texas Academic Decathlon and is a member of the Superintendents Advisory Board of the Principals’ Institute, the steering committee for Fast Growth School Coalition, the Superintendent’s Advisory Council for the Holdsworth Center, and an officer in Texas School Alliance.Northside Superintendent Brian Woods, a longtime educator and vocal advocate for public education, has been named the best superintendent in the state by Texas Association of School Boards.

— Northside ISD

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