Assistant Director

Stephanie Woodard, Ph.D.

704-687-6341
sjonesfo@charlotte.edu

Dr. Stephanie Woodard is an accomplished educator, writer, and scholar with over 20 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and training new and experienced teachers. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an Urban Education specialization. As an emerging scholar, Dr. Woodard served as President of Urban Educators for Change, an organization that aimed to build university and school partnerships to support teachers and students in urban schools. She also coordinated the research division of the Urban Education Collaborative, where she collaborated with over 20 faculty and graduate students to publish research on equity and social justice in education. In addition, she obtained grants to support urban education research and initiatives.

Dr. Woodard played a significant role in developing an online Culturally Sustaining Teacher Certificate program at UNC Charlotte, which supported over 100 educators in becoming successful culturally sustaining teachers. As a Teacher Leadership and Development Coach, she coached, mentored, and supported over 120 first and second-year teachers in rural, suburban, and urban settings. She dedicated more than countless hours to help them develop highly effective teaching practices. During her time as a coach, she partnered with community leaders in four different school districts to support new teacher initiatives and student success.

Dr. Woodard is a former middle and high school teacher with almost 10 years of classroom experience. She provided engaging lessons using culturally relevant pedagogy to students living in high-risk areas in urban centers. Many of her students have graduated from college and gone on to lead successful lives.

Dr. Woodard’s research has been featured in top-tier journals such as the Journal of Negro Education, Journal of Multicultural Education, and the Journal of African American Males in Education. She has also co-authored several book chapters and books. Her latest book, Political, Legislative, and Economic Solutions to Urban Education and the Implications on Teacher Preparation, is was released in Spring 2022. In addition to her role as Assistant Director, Dr. Woodard currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT) Coordinator at Lenoir-Rhyne University, where she is committed to sharing her knowledge and expertise in the field of teacher preparation and education. She is a proud product of an HBCU, Morgan State University.