The Covington County Board of Education voted to appoint Barry Wood as the next principal of Pleasant Home School at a special meeting held on Wednesday on June 14th.
Wood recently retired after a total of 28 years’ serving in the United States Navy as a senior chief Petty Officer. He was an 1989 Straughn High School graduate and a long-time resident of Covington County.
“I’ve been fortunate to have served in a variety of great schools throughout my career. Being able of returning to Covington County to serve the children, teachers, along with the personnel of Pleasant Home will be fulfilling and inspiring. In the in the past, I’ve enjoyed the privilege to work with and sometimes tutoring many students and parents of Pleasant Home staff members and parents. These experiences gave me a thorough understanding of the factors that make Pleasant Home such a special location,” Wood said.
His experience in administration began in 2012 as deputy principal of Red Level High School. The following time at Kabul, Afghanistan, with the Navy Reserve Seabees. After returning from the field He was the accreditation coordinator for Covington County Schools and was the assistant principal of Straughn Elementary and Middle Schools.
Wood is back in Covington County, having spent the past four seasons in Brewton.
“It’s always nice to be home in this case the case of Pleasant Home. I am extremely grateful for members of the CCS Board of Education and Superintendent Shannon Driver for allowing me the opportunity to serve my hometown again and to work alongside the gifted teachers, administrators and staff members who work in Covington County Schools. I am also thankful for Brewton City Schools as well as their Superintendent Dr. Varner, for the amazing opportunity to be principal at Brewton elementary school. The BES faculty, students and staff at BES will always have an important spot in my soul. I’m convinced that the four years I was there were instrumental in preparing me for the next phase of my professional life,” he said.
Wood said that his primary goal at PHS will be to unify the school and establish an environment of high expectations.
“Whether you are a student, staff member, or administrator we’ll strive to improve our performance today over what the way we used to be yesterday. We will apply the mindset of growth in all we do. In the areas we’re excellent in at PHS We will strive to improve, and when we feel we are good, we will strive to improve. We will be excited about our job and the enormous opportunities we’ve been given as educators. We only have a limited period of time to make a difference for our pupils and our aim is to utilize this crucial window to the fullest extent. We at Pleasant Home School, we are a school that will lead, teach and develop a solid foundation of character. This means doing what’s right since it’s the best way to go.”
He has 19 years of experience in the field, with 11 years in administration. Woods has a bachelor’s degree with a major in Middle Grades Mathematics from the University of West Florida and an advanced master’s degree of instructional Leadership at Troy University.
“The assistance by my loved ones and relatives is everything. My wife and daughters are the mainstays in my life and they are thrilled to welcome me back home. The support by Pleasant Home has been extremely helpful. Pleasant Home community has been extremely positive and I am looking forward to developing friendships that last for a life time. I’m very excited to be member of”the Eagles group.”
His wife is his High School sweetheart for 31, Jan Wood. They have three girls: Jordan, Reagan, and Lauren. Jordan is a science teacher in Straughn High School. She is engaged to Ethan Stonecipher, an engineer at Shaw Industries. Reagan is an LBWCC sophomore LBWCC this fall while Lauren will be an incoming sophomore at SHS.
Pleasant Home School will introduce Wood to the community at an “Meet Wood the principal” event on July 12, 2013 between 8 and 11 a.m. For more details, contact the school office at 334-222-1315.
The story about Wood chosen to head Pleasant Home School as new principal was originally published at The Andalusia Star-News.
