Northside ISD Superintendent Brian T. Woods, Ed.D., has been chosen to join a select group of Texans to receive the Golden Deeds Award, a coveted award for distinguished service to education in the state. Woods will be presented with the award at the 2023 TASA Midwinter Conference January 30 in Austin.
TASA and the Texas A&M University Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource (EAHR) Development co-present the Golden Deeds Award each year to an individual from any profession who has, through actions and deeds, improved the educational system in Texas to enrich the lives of all Texas public school students. Recipients are chosen by a committee of school leaders from across Texas.
“Dr. Woods has been an outstanding advocate for the students in the Texas public education system throughout his career,” wrote one of his two nominators. “During his tenure as a well-respected leader in education, he has devoted countless hours to testifying and interacting with members of the Texas Legislature and with the commissioner of education to help shape statute and rule that are in the best interests of students.”
Woods, who was selected as the 2018 Texas Superintendent of the Year and as one of four finalists for 2019 National Superintendent of the Year, has served as superintendent of Northside ISD in San Antonio since 2012. He has worked in the district since 1992, when he began his career as a social studies teacher. He has also served Northside ISD as an assistant principal, vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent for secondary administration and deputy superintendent.
“Although his schedule is extremely busy, Dr. Woods regularly makes time to travel to Austin to work directly with legislators on critical issues related to education in Texas,” wrote his second nominator. “Public education is his passion, and as the leader of the fourth largest school district in Texas, his work is not contained within the boundaries of Northside.”
Woods serves as the president of the Texas School Alliance, an organization focused on education policy that comprises 45 Texas school districts, which educate 41% of the state’s total student enrollment. He is also a member of the Go Public Steering Committee, the Board of P16Plus Council of Greater Bexar County, and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Woods is active in TASA, having served as the organization’s president in 2020-21 and as a statewide officer and member of the TASA Executive Committee prior to that.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from The University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree and doctorate in educational leadership from The University of Texas at San Antonio.
