Mountain Home Kindergarten principal Janet Wood high-fives a student while reading to a class. New roles
This isn’t the first time Wood has suc- ceeded after being in a new leadership role.
In 2015, she became the district’s
technology, research and development director, also while holding an adminis- trative position at Guy Berry College & Career Academy. During her two-year role, she helped organize the district’s technology department, including form- ing a technology committee that would formulate a new district technology plan. She also worked to help the district build digital student portfolios and indi- vidual student success plans. This al- lowed the district to work years ahead of future state requirements. In her first year, the district also pur-
chased 1,000 Chromebooks for stu- dents. Wood remains excited about the
technological growth of the district, sharing Chromebook- and iPad-to-stu- dent ratios in several grades. As an ex- ample, three years ago, each kindergar- ten and first-grade teacher had three iPads for students. This fall, every kin- dergarten and first-grade student has an iPad to use.
Awards
Wood has been inducted into the Ar- kansas High School Coaches Associa- tion Hall of Fame, the Southern Arkan- sas University Hall of Fame and the Mountain Home Athletic Hall of Honor. She was named by Mountain Home Business and Professional Women as the Most Influential Woman of the Year in 2011.
Each year the district also purchases
Chromebooks for all eighth graders, who may keep the devices after graduating. “Our school board is very supportive
of the fact we need technological de- vices in the hands of the students,” Wood said. Wood also was instrumental in put- ting people with the right skills in place, and recommended hiring Chris Knight as director of the technology depart- ment and Rosemary Thomas as instruc- tional technology specialist.
Guiding principles For Wood, it’s is all about the right at-
titude, treating people with respect and enjoying life’s journey.
16 ❚ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 ❚ LIVING WELL “You have a choice in your attitude,”
Wood said, explaining while she may not enjoy waking early every morning, she does enjoy starting her day opening car doors and seeing students’ cheerful faces.
She also emphasized the importance of not judging others, but instead ac- cepting people for who they are. Wood leads a balanced life with var-
ied personal interests. She lives in the Flippin area with her husband, Lou Wood, and for 20 years of their marriage they raised 100 cows and 40 quarter horses. She enjoys playing golf at Big Creek Golf & Country Club as often as possible and was the Big Creek Women’s Club champion for four years. She also enjoys four-wheeling on the farm and hunts deer and turkey. They make sure to take vacations and visit their six grandchildren. “A balance of life leads to a passion in
what you’re doing,” Wood said. And although Wood never thought
she would be a kindergarten principal, she has embraced this new role as part of her journey. “Life is a journey of making memo-
ries,” Wood said. “Always enjoy the jour- ney.”
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