Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007

Former teacher returns as assitant principal at P-L

by Carolyn Kaberline

For Josh Woodward, becoming assistant principal at Perry-Lecompton Middle School is like coming home. Woodward spent 11 years, from 1989-2000, as a teacher in USD 343 and even did his student teaching in the district.

“I student taught under Jill [Bradney], Bill Culver, and Steve [Riley],” Woodward said. “I taught P.E., health, and social studies classes.”

Then in 2000 he moved to the Basehor-Linwood district where his duties were similar.

“My boys were very young, and I wanted to be closer to home so that I could spend more time with them,” Woodward says of his move. “I taught about the same things there as here except for those last three years,” he explained. During those last three years he became the NCA chairman for the middle school and found that he enjoyed working with both the staff and the students.

Although he hadn’t planned on going into administration at the time, when Pittsburg State University offered an advanced degree program at a satellite campus in Overland Park, Woodward took advantage of the opportunity. “I went on and got the administration degree, but never used it. I just enjoyed looking at the data and comparing league scores.”

However, when he heard about the opening for an assistant principal at Perry-Lecompton Middle School, he quickly applied. Currently he’s director of support services which includes transportation and food service for the district as well as the assistant principal.

“I love the challenge,” Woodward says, “I’m busier than I’ve ever been in my life. But I know you can only be as successful as the people you’re around and the people here are great. I was confident I’d enjoy it and I haven’t been disappointed.”

According to Woodward probably the hardest part and biggest concern of his job is keeping all the bus schedules straight. “When I first started I must have called Mike Copple (former director of services) about five times in three hours for help. Now Woodward says “we have kids going everywhere. Sometimes the bus drivers pick students up in different locations or drop them off in different locations. But the drivers know the kids and their families, so everyone looks out for everyone else.”

So far, Woodward says that because of increased transportation requirements, the district has hired three new drivers this year, but all were doing well in making the transition. “Teachers who have a CDL have helped out too.”

Despite the challenges of his job, Woodward says that one thing that is particularly enjoyable for him is coming back and seeing how his former students are doing. “I have students going through school now whose parents I had. I even have a former student on the school board.”

Woodward is also looking forward to the renewed rivalry with Perry Middle School teacher Mark Boswell, a long time K-State fan; Woodward is a dedicated KU fan. “Before I left in 2000 I hid little Jayhawks all over Mark’s room,” Woodward explains with a chuckle. “He [Mark] says he was glad to move to the new middle school just to get away from the Jayhawks he was still finding.”

Woodward graduated from KU in 1989 after earning a K-12 education degree in physical education and health before attending Emporia to earn social science and science endorsements. He later returned to the University of Kansas for a master’s degree in education with a concentration in sports and athletic administration prior to earning his educational leadership endorsement for grades K-12 from Pittsburg State in 2002. He’s currently looking into beginning a doctorate program in district level administration. “It’s more research based and takes public school leadership into the future.”

Woodward has been married to his wife, Gillette, for 11 years, and says she’s part of his Perry connection.

“We met at Curt Culver’s wedding in 1992,” he says. “Darrin Pearson was the second groomsman in line, and Gillette was also second. I was third, but moved him out of line so I could escort her.”

Woodward got her number at the reception and called her “three or four days later.” The two hit it off and were married in March of 1995.

“1995 was quite a year,” Woodward says with a chuckle. “We got married, got a mortgage and had our first kid all in one year.”

Woodward and his wife live in Desoto where his wife is a real estate agent for Keller-Williams, a Texas based firm. “We’ve stayed there because she’s built up a good clientele.” Woodward says his wife began working at the firm part time, then went full time when their two sons were older. Matthew is currently a sixth grader and Zachary a fourth grader in the Desoto school system.