Richard Woods (politician)

{{Short description|American politician and educator}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Richard Woods

| image = File:Richard-woods superintendent.webp

| office = Georgia Superintendent of Schools

| governor = Nathan Deal
Brian Kemp

| term_start = January 12, 2015

| term_end =

| predecessor = John Barge

| successor =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Pensacola, Florida, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Lisha

| education = Kennesaw State University (BA)
Valdosta State University (MA)

}}

Richard Woods is an American politician and educator who is currently the Georgia Superintendent of Schools, a position he was elected to in 2014. He was reelected to his position in 2018, defeating his Democratic opponent Otha Thornton with slightly over 53% of the vote.{{cite web | title = November 6, 2018 General Election| work = GA - Election Night Reporting| publisher = Georgia Secretary of State| date = November 10, 2018| url = https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/91639/Web02-state.220747/#/cid/26000| access-date = 10 November 2018 }}

Woods received his bachelor's degree from Kennesaw State University and his master's degree from Valdosta State University. His career in education has spanned over twenty-five years, including fourteen in the classroom as a high school teacher. He spent an additional eight years working as a school administrator, in positions such as assistant principal and alternative school director. Woods also worked as a purchasing agent for a multi-national laser company and has been a small business owner.{{cite web|url=http://www.gadoe.org/Pages/superintendent.aspx|title=Richard Woods Georgia's School Superintendent|website=gadoe.org|language=en-US|access-date=December 29, 2018}}