Straughn Elementary School Assistant Principal Barry Wood was selected as the 2018 CLAS District 2 Assistant Principal of the Year.

“I am just very excited and humble to even be considered for this award,” Wood said.

Wood said that he strives every day to be the type of administrator that his faculty and students need.

“When I wake up I make sure to be the best for my faculty and students,” Wood said. “They are always so amazing and excellent so they deserve the same level of professionalism from me.”

Wood said that the best part of his job is the laughter.

“It is something that happens every day,” Wood said. “I go to school and the students just always keep me laughing. They always have stories to tell and you can tell that they are just excited to be here. It’s those experiences that keep a smile on my face.”

This is Wood’s fourth year as assistant principal at Straughn Elementary. Prior to being assistant principal at SES, he was assistant principal at Red Level High School, served a tour in Afghanistan and was on the accreditation board at the Covington County Central Office.

“I think that all of those experiences helped shape the type of assistant principal that I am today,” Wood said. “I have been in education for 15 years now.”

Wood said that he got into education because he wanted to shape the lives of the students.

“I just wanted to have an opportunity to shape the lives of my students,” Wood said. “Just like those teachers of mine that shaped my life.”

Wood has been a life long resident of Covington County.

“I graduated from Straughn High School,” Wood said. “This is just home to me.”

Wood will compete at the state level for the state’s Assistant Principal of the Year, and then if he wins that he will compete in the national competition.