“Together, we’ve accomplished so much for Georgia’s children,” began an email that came into our office the other day. “There’s more work to be done to ensure that strong class-focused and classroom-centered policies are supported across the state.”
With those words first-term state School Superintendent Richard Woods announced that he would run for re-election next year. To date, the Republican incumbent doesn’t appear to have a viable opponent on the horizon– either from the GOP or the Democrat side.
The career educator has had a rocky relationship with Gov. Nathan Deal, agreeing with him on some priorities and disagreeing on others. For example, when it came to the recent education “turnaround” legislation (H.B. 338) signed into law by the governor, Woods initially wanted the “chief turnaround officer” for chronically failing schools to report to him. It wasn’t meant to be. That oversight went to the state Board of Education. Nevertheless, Woods has built up a loyal statewide following among teachers and parents, and that is a formidable voting bloc.
His campaign also is distributing a video, according to the email, so voters can “learn about the real results and proven leadership that I’ve brought to the position.
