Richard is from Fitzgerald, Georgia. He attended Fitzgerald High School. He has a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree from Valdosta State University. He lives with his wife, Lisha, in Tifton.

Richard Lee Woods is from Fitzgerald, Georgia. He has a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree from Valdosta State University. He lives with his wife, Lisha, in Tifton.

Richard Lee Woods is currently the State School Superintendent of Georgia. He has served in this position for over a decade.

Richard Woods - Georgia gov

Richard is currently the State School Superintendent of Georgia. He  was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. 

2026 Georgia Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

Supports cursive writing, personal finance, post-secondary options, special education supports, and play in the school curriculum.

Supports cursive writing, personal finance, post-secondary options, special education support, and play-in-school curriculum.

- Supports cursive writing, personal finance, post-secondary options, special education support, and play-in-school curriculum.

School Curriculum

Wants to modernize the K-12 education formula to ensure students have the necessary resources and supports to succeed.

Wants to modernize the K-12 education formula to ensure students have the necessary resources and support to succeed.

- Wants to modernize the K-12 education formula to ensure students have the necessary resources and support to succeed.

School Facilities & Resources

Supports the Parents' Bill of Rights to enhance parental involvement in education.

Supports the Parents' Bill of Rights with the goal of enhancing parental involvement in education.

For Candidate Richard Lee Woods on Issue student-wellbeing:  
Wants to protect student data/privacy and provide a distraction-free learning environment.

Wants to protect student data and privacy and also provide a distraction-free learning environment.

Supports the implementation of a School Resource Officer (SRO) and a crisis alert system in every school.

For Candidate Richard Lee Woods on Issue student-wellbeing:  
Created a 'Ready Georgia' designation for schools in partnership with GEMA/Homeland Security.

Advocates for programs focused on proactive preparation for disasters. 

Supports requiring school safety drills, safety plans, and law enforcement review of new school building plans.

- Supports the Parents' Bill of Rights with the goal of enhancing parental involvement in education.
- Wants to protect student data and privacy and also provide a distraction-free learning environment.
- Supports the implementation of a School Resource Officer (SRO) and a crisis alert system in every school.
- Advocates for programs focused on proactive preparation for disasters. 
- Supports requiring school safety drills, safety plans, and law enforcement review of new school building plans.

Student Wellbeing

Supports the expansion of the Georgia BEST program to cover the costs of quality teaching degrees.

Believes in the expansion of the Georgia BEST program to cover the costs of quality teaching degrees.

Supports encouraging more individuals to enter the teaching profession through the 'Teach in the Peach' initiative.

- Believes in the expansion of the Georgia BEST program to cover the costs of quality teaching degrees.
- Supports encouraging more individuals to enter the teaching profession through the 'Teach in the Peach' initiative.

Teachers

As of March 11, 2026, Richard Woods’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Access to Education

Endorsements

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Richard Woods

For Candidate Richard Lee Woods on Issue school-curriculum: Supports eliminating Common Core ELA standards in favor of Georgia-owned standards.

Supported eliminating Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standards in favor of Georgia-owned standards.

For Candidate Richard Lee Woods on Issue student-wellbeing:  
Supports the establishment of a School Safety team at the Georgia Department of Education.

Supported the establishment of a school safety team at the Georgia Department of Education.

Supports eliminating Common Core standards to enhance parental involvement in children's education.

Established the first-ever Office of Rural Education to expand educational opportunities in rural areas.

Established the Office of Rural Education to expand educational opportunities in rural areas.

As of March 11, 2026, Richard Lee Woods’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Richard Lee Woods

- Supported eliminating Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standards in favor of Georgia-owned standards.
- Supports cursive writing, personal finance, post-secondary options, special education support, and play-in-school curriculum.

Supports programs focused on proactive preparation for disasters. 

- Supports the Parents' Bill of Rights with the goal of enhancing parental involvement in education.
- Wants to protect student data and privacy and also provide a distraction-free learning environment.
- Supports the implementation of a School Resource Officer (SRO) and a crisis alert system in every school.
- Supports programs focused on proactive preparation for disasters. 
- Supported the establishment of a school safety team at the Georgia Department of Education.
- Supports requiring school safety drills, safety plans, and law enforcement review of new school building plans.

- Supports the expansion of the Georgia BEST program to cover the costs of quality teaching degrees.
- Supports encouraging more individuals to enter the teaching profession through the 'Teach in the Peach' initiative.

- Established the Office of Rural Education to expand educational opportunities in rural areas.

Richard is from Fitzgerald, Georgia. He has a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree from Valdosta State University. He lives with his wife, Lisha, in Tifton.

Richard Lee Woods is currently the State School Superintendent of Georgia. He  was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. 

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- The State School Superintendent is the Administrative Head of the Georgia Department of Education. They are responsible for putting into action the policies and regulations that come out of the State Board of Education for Georgia’s K-12 public education system. 
- The State School Superintendent provides guidance to the State Board of Education and local school boards on how to comply with new state education laws, such as changes in funding or new curriculum requirements.
- The State School Superintendent can make recommendations to the State Board of Education, a board of 13 members who are all appointed by the Governor and set policies for the public school system.
- The State School Superintendent is elected statewide. They serve four year terms.

The administrative head of Georgia’s K-12 public education system