Position

• Superintendent, Rantoul City Schools (2022-Present)

• Previously: Principal, JW Eater Junior High; District Bilingual Director (2018-2022)

Contact

• Email: swoods@rcs137.org 

• Phone: 217-893-5400

Years in Education: 28

Years with RCS: 8

Education

• EdD, School Leadership, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• MEd, School Leadership, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• MA, Cultural Studies, University of Birmingham, England

• BS, Secondary Education, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Statement

Rantoul City Schools exists to build a stronger community by educating our students, and I am excited to serve the RCS community as its Superintendent of schools. Throughout my career I have worked hard to improve the educational experiences of all my students, and, regardless of my role, the needs of students are always at the center of my decision-making.  For the past 18 years, I have served as a school and district leader, I am passionate about school leadership, professional development, and curriculum innovation and implementation that supports all students and families.

My career experiences as a teacher, building leader, parent and student have given me the chance to see what works well and what works great in schools. It has also taught me that every situation, building, and staff has a unique set of experiences and expectations, but everyone who continues to work in education wants to be part of what works great; and all families want what is best for their students! I find that all areas of education require enthusiastic, hard-working, and committed individuals who provide consistent, clear leadership.

Prior to becoming Superintendent, I served RCS as the Principal of JW Eater Junior High School and as the District Bilingual Director.  In addition to RCS, I have administrative experience working for Urbana SD 116 (2010-2018)  and West Aurora SD 129 (2004-2010).  Prior to working in administration, I taught at Rantoul Township High School, West Aurora SD 129, and St. Charles CUSD 303 as a high school and middle school Spanish and high school Social Studies teacher. During my teaching years, I coached cross country and track and oversaw a variety of student activities.

In my world outside of work, I have been married to my wife, an RTHS graduate, for 25 years, and we have two school-aged children. Both of my parents were high school teachers and guidance counselors in my hometown. My mother-in-law was a career elementary teacher with RCS, and my father-in-law served on the RTHS School Board. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading US History, building new LEGO sets, volunteering with my church, and exploring nature. 

Publications, Presentations, and Accomplishments

• Presenter at the Illinois Joint Annual Conference,  RISE to the Challenge: Share the Success Panel, 2024.

• Woods, S.C., Cromley, J.G. and Hackmann, D.G. (2020), "Relationships between the middle school concept and student demographics", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 58 No. 3, pp. 265-281. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-04-2019-0071

• Board of Trustees Member, Association for Middle Level Education, 2018-2020.

• Dissertation of the Year Award, American Educational Research Association: Middle Level Research, 2018. 

• Presenter at University Council for Educational Administration, Access to Middle Grades Programming: Examining Relationships Between Middle School Concept and Schools’ Racial/Ethnic Demographics, 2017.

• Woods, S. C. (2017). Measuring the middle school concept: the status and effectiveness of middle school concept implementation in Illinois (Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). http://hdl.handle.net/2142/97235 

• Presenter at Association for Middle Level Education National Conference, Examining the Relationship between Middle School, Race, Poverty, and Achievement, 2016.

• Presenter at Association for Middle Level Education National Conference, Measuring the Middle School Concept: The Status and Effectiveness of Middle School Concept in Illinois, 2015.

• Published in: Walker, J. E. (Ed.). (1999). Encyclopedia of African American business history. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.