In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna is joined by Johnny Key live from the Excel in Ed Conference in New Orleans for a conversation with Richard Woods, Georgia’s elected State School Superintendent.

Woods reflects on his path from classroom teacher to statewide office sharing how the post No Child Left Behind era pushed him to focus on what he felt was missing most: talking about kids, not just tests. Now entering his 12th year in office and running for a fourth term, he describes what it takes to stay relevant, energized, and centered on student outcomes over multiple terms.

The conversation explores Georgia’s push to strengthen early literacy, including the rollout of new K–12 literacy standards grounded in the science of reading. Woods shares early results from Georgia’s federally identified CSI schools, where coaching support modeled after Mississippi’s approach has driven initial gains and is now being replicated more broadly across the state.

Woods also discusses Georgia’s comprehensive approach to school safety—not only hardening buildings through cameras, SROs, and facility design collaboration with first responders, but also addressing the “question behind the question” through mental health supports, stronger inter-agency coordination, and telehealth access in rural communities.

Key Moments

06:12 "Importance of Reading for Kids"

09:57 "Focusing on Kids' Basic Needs"

11:14 Prioritizing School Safety and Readiness

17:15 "Teaching the Peach Initiative"

18:05 Addressing Teacher Retention Challenges

21:45 "Improving Literacy Through Accountability"

24:49 "Integrating Subjects for Deeper Learning"

Connect with Richard Woods

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-woods-52571849/

Website: https://www.gadoe.org/