Asst. Professor Educational/ School Leadership
Phone: 903.565.5639
Email: cwoody@uttyler.edu
Building: BEP 212C
Department: Education
Cindy Woody
Professional Background
Dr. Cynthia S. Woody is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the School
of Education at the University of Texas at Tyler. Her professional background spans
over three decades of leadership and service across Texas public school districts
and higher education institutions.
Prior to joining UT Tyler, Dr. Woody served as Superintendent of Priddy ISD, Executive
Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Gregory-Portland ISD, and Executive Director
of Teaching and Learning at Midlothian ISD. Her K-12 experience also includes district-level
roles as an elementary and secondary principal, secondary curriculum coordinator and
district advanced academics coordinator, as well as classroom teaching across elementary
grades, middle school ELA/science/technology, and high school special education. In
higher education, she previously served at the University of Texas at Arlington as
Director of Accelerated Online Programs, Clinical Assistant Professor, and Program
Coordinator for the M.Ed. Principal Certification Programs.
Dr. Woody earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and M.S.Ed. in Educational Administration
from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and her B.A.T. in Elementary Education from Sam
Houston State University. She holds Texas Education Agency certifications as a Superintendent,
Principal, Special Education (EC–12), English (8–12), Reading (1–8), and All Subjects
(1–8). She is also an authorized Texas School Board Trainer, TEA Principal Field Supervisor,
and certified T-TESS and T-PESS appraiser.
Her honors include state finalist recognition for Administrator of the Year and Elementary
Educator of the Year by the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), the
UT Tyler Innovation in Teaching Award, a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
OER Fellowship, and selection as a Fellow of the Texas ASCD Curriculum Leadership
Academy.
Research Interests
Novice Leader Support & Central Office Governance: Central office support structures
for new principals and administrative induction options.
Principal Preparation & School Improvement: Integrating transformational leadership,
equity audits, hope science, and strategic school improvement frameworks.
Rural School Leadership & Governance: Leadership development in rural school districts,
school board training, and educational policy implementation.
Courses Taught at UT Tyler (2025–Present)
Doctoral Program:
EDSI 6330: School Culture and Community Engagement for School Improvement
M.Ed. Principal Program:
EDLR 5310: Educational Theory and Practice
EDLR 5311: Instructional Leadership and Supervision
EDLR 5313: Strategic School Improvement
EDLR 5330: The Principalship
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction Program:
EDCI 5329: Instructional Coaching Practicum