Wood has been superintendent since July 2015 of the new Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, which split from the Pulaski County Special School District and began operating independently this year. He previously served as commissioner of the state Education Department and as deputy commissioner. He was deputy superintendent of the Little Rock School District and spent 18 years leading the Searcy School District. He has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from Harding University and an administrator certification from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Who or what are you using as a model as you fill this role?
Forming a new school district by detaching territory from an existing school district has never been done in Arkansas, so there is no model or step-by-step guide. However, I am fortunate to have a number of experts in the field of education who have supported my work with their practical application of knowledge and their vast experience.
What in your background has prepared you to serve as this school district’s first superintendent?
In the early part of my career, I spent some time as superintendent in a small rural school district. We didn’t have much money, but the absence of bureaucratic barriers allowed more flexibility for quicker decision-making. A tour of duty as deputy superintendent in the Little Rock School District provided me an opportunity to be part of an urban school system where you have to break down barriers to reform and build capacity for teaching and learning. The 18 years I spent in Searcy developing a high-performing school system made it possible for me to take part in education policy and reform impacting the state. After retirement from Searcy, I agreed to serve as deputy commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education. The four years in that position and one year as commissioner allowed for more understanding of our state’s educational system and the expectations of legislators to explore potential ways education can be improved.
I am grateful for all these experiences, and all have served me well. But I’m not sure if anyone can be prepared for the complexity of managing parallel processes to reduce the level of risk and uncertainty involved in establishing a new school district.
What career mistake did you make that taught you the most?
Over the years, I’ve learned the way we choose to communicate is important. There were times in the past that I reacted too quickly to a situation. It is still a problem for me, but I have learned to respond in a more mature manner by taking time for careful thought and reflection.
What does success as a superintendent look like to you?
I see the success of a superintendent as aligned to student success. In the micro, I see superintendent success in the fiscal stability of the district, in the district climate — support of the community, unity of all district employees to provide for educational opportunities for students.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in starting a new school district?
The employment of all district staff was a significant task. The physical separation from the Pulaski County Special School District called for detailed organization, planning and execution. And the time frame for the tremendous number of tasks is challenging. Although there were and still are noteworthy challenges, the supportive Jacksonville community and the dedicated staff — support and licensed — will make this a success for students.
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