After more than three decades of dedicated service to public education, Salida School District Assistant Superintendent William Wooddell has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the ‘24-’25 school year.
Wooddell's career in education spans 34 years, during which he has served as a teacher, dean, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. He enjoys his work and is dedicated to a concept called “kaizen”, a philosophy of continuously improving all processes in an organization through the engagement and involvement of all employees. It is a continuous, structured, and methodical approach to improvement that has been reflected throughout his career.
He started in an urban setting and worked as a social studies teacher in both JeffCo and Denver Public Schools for 8 years before becoming the dean at the DPS middle school. His interest in administration grew, and he was hired to be a turnaround principal for Sheridan Middle School in Arapahoe County, Colorado. In less than three years, he was able to successfully lead the school through a performance watch by the state to return stability and achievement to the school.
His leadership and ability to connect with staff, students, and members of the culturally diverse and economically challenged community helped him to implement his vision through evaluation, analyzing data, and improving attendance to support student success.
“Leading in a turnaround school is a challenge because everyone is watching,” said Wooddell. “You know the importance of making needed changes that will benefit the students and community, and know that your success is key to making that happen. The spotlight is on you.”
Wooddell next stepped into the role of district performance manager for the Sheridan School District where he served as the liaison between three schools, the superintendent’s and Executive Director’s offices, while supporting principals on instructional support, data tracking, and alignment of curriculum.
The next stop for Wooddell was to step into the role of principal at Salida Middle School from 2013-2022. He worked with 350 vivacious middle school students from grades 5-8 and supervised 35+ staff members including teachers, special educators, front office staff, and other classified staff. He led the building through continuous improvement, evidenced by student achievement and growth data, which outpaced the state average in all CMAS-tested subjects.
Middle school is not everyone’s cup of tea - early adolescence is a challenging time for the humans living the experience, and the grown ups helping them navigate the curious shift from childhood to looming adulthood. Wooddell spent more than 25 years in the middle school setting and was an exemplary leader in this environment. He helped students learn about who they are and what they want to be as they grow up, while also allowing them the grace to make mistakes and learn from them to be better humans.
In 2022, after completing his superintendent licensure program through the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Wooddell accepted the assistant superintendent position for the Salida School District. He currently oversees the human resources, transportation, technology, food services, and grounds/maintenance departments. He is also the district-level contact for Title IX, Special Education, and Gifted and Talented services, and is the coordinator for student testing programs across the district.
He excels at building relationships with students, staff, parents, and community members to develop strong partnerships for the betterment of the entire community. His focus on recruiting amazing staff to serve the students in his care has helped to build a strong network of support that can be felt throughout the district.
The love of the job has kept Wooddell focused, and he had plans to continue to serve his community until life threw him one of those unexpected curveballs - in the fall of 2024 he was diagnosed with ALS, often called Lou Gehrig's disease. As he and his family navigate that shift in their story, Wooddell has taken a thoughtful approach to the next steps in his journey.
He is dedicated to continuing to bring excellence to his role as assistant superintendent through the end of the school year when his retirement becomes official. Then he will return next year on a more limited basis to provide support for special projects and to the HR department where he will continue to support the staff of Salida Schools.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the students, staff, school board, and families of this community," said Wooddell. "I am proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that the district will continue to thrive in the years to come."
His leadership and commitment to student success will have a lasting impact on the district.
"Will's contributions to our district are immeasurable," said Salida School District Superintendent Dr. David Blackburn. "He is a visionary leader, a dedicated educator, and a true champion for our students."
Wooddell is enjoying additional time with family and friends, including his wife Karry, and their daughters Natalie and Caroline. Will is an avid outdoorsman and gardener and will continue to pursue those interests, sharing the occasional tall tale about a memorable fishing trip and providing an overwhelming number of zucchini to his friends and neighbors.
###