Teaching Philosophy

"We live in a world of slogans and symbols and catchy phrases, and I believe that if there's one saying that truly expresses my philosophy of education it's, 'Just Do It.'  I feel certain that all of us can do more than we are doing if someone just convinces us that we can . . . I think the best thing that I can do for students is to give them the opportunity to face challenges, to give them the tools to meet challenges, and then to rejoice with them when they succeed."

Honors and Awards

National Delta Kappa Gamma Golden Gift Stipend
Selected to serve on the ACT National Assessment Governing Board Pilot Project to determine standards for "America's Report Card."
Selected to serve on the Kansas Standards of Writing Assessment Committee
One of 14 Spanish teachers statewide selected to formulate information
  dissemination priorities for the State of Kansas by the University of Kansas
  (KU)
Selected by the Kansas State Department of Education to serve on the
accreditation review team for teacher-preparation colleges and universities
Who's Who Among America's High School Teachers (twice)
One of five teachers selected by the Kansas Humanities Council to represent
Kansas at the National Chautauqua Workshop in North Dakota
Selected by the KU Center for Educational Testing to participate in the assessing
of the Kansas State Writing Assessments (five times)
Selected to deliver Southeast Warren High School's commencement address
Named #1 Teacher at Southeast Warren High School, Liberty Center, Iowa
Recipient of the USD 433 Board of Eduation Go for the Gold Award and the
ZAPP (Zealous Appreciation for Positive Performance) Award (twice)
Selected as Iowa's delegate to the National Communicator's Forum
Recipient of an Iowa State Department of Education grant for a three-week
Spanish immersion workshop  

What People Say

"Mrs. Wood teaches her students more than how to write papers and appreciate literature.  She teaches all of them that hard work and friendship can accomplish anything.  She develops a rapport with them and makes them feel comfortable in her class.  She sees each student as an individual and makes them feel proud. . . As a teacher and former student, I look up to Goldie Wood as a role model and friend.  She is inspiring and respected by her peers.   She loves teaching and her students."
Kimberly Armstrong, former student

"Mrs. Wood is a compassionate teacher and genuinely cares for each and every student that walks through her door.  Through her teaching, she encourages students and makes them feel special and important.  She made English less threatening to me and in her own way influenced my decision to pursue print journalism in college . . . Any accolades and honors I received in college are a credit to the education I received from Mrs. Wood."  Joshua L. Kinder, former student

"Surely one must wonder if Goldie Wood is allotted forty hours to each day instead of the conventional 24.  No, it's just that her enthusiasm and love of teaching propels her into doing everything with a zest for life.  It is that same quality that causes her students to believe that they, too, can achieve and accomplish far beyond their previous expectations."  State Representative Ethel M. Peterson, 116th District