By Rick Morwick
Carmel Clay Schools recently hired a new director of student services. He brings no shortage of leadership and hands-on experience to the job.
David Woodward, who served in an administrative position with the Indiana Dept. of Education for more than a decade, oversees all aspects of CCS’s student support programing. School safety and security, mental health initiatives and assorted daily operations are under his umbrella of responsibilities.
“There’s a great amount of talent that exists in this school corporation, both with staff and students,” said Woodward, whose hiring was approved Aug. 15 by the CCS school board. “The goal of any public servant is to make an impact, and this is just a great opportunity to positively impact students and, hopefully, the corporation as a whole.”
An Indiana University graduate with a master’s degree in counseling education, Woodward, 46, joins CCS after serving 13 years as the Indiana Dept. of Education’s director of School Building, Physical Security and Safety. In that role, he oversaw daily safety operations for Indiana schools.
In addition, Woodward was the director of the Indiana School Safety Specialists Academy, which trains educators to become certified school safety specialists. Among other responsibilites, he conducted physical safety reviews in schools across the state.
“I hope to bring my knowledge and perspective of state and national best-practices with regards to student services,” Woodward said. “My experience is a bit unique. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to visit hundreds of schools during my career, and each one approaches student services a little bit differently.
“I hope to take that experience and help supplement the already great services that Carmel Clay provides.”
A southside Indianapolis resident, Woodward is a consulting board member for the Indiana School Resource Officer Association and is a member of the Governor’s Executive Cyber Security Council for Indiana.
“I am thrilled to have an individual of David’s talent and demeanor join the Carmel Clay Schools admistrative team,” first-year CCS Supt. Michael Beresford stated. “He has a proven record of bringing best-practice initiatives to a large scale succesfully. He is also a very humble leader who understands the collaborative process.
Woodward and his wife, Gina, have a son, Cooper, who attends Southport High School. Gina Cooper works for Perry Meridian Middle School in the Perry Township Schools system.
