Familiar Face Will Be New Woodland Middle School Principal

The new principal at Woodland Middle School next year has been a familiar face in the school for nearly 19 years.

The Woodland Board of Education approved promoting Assistant Principal Tiffany Drake to the principal position starting with the 2019-2020 school year. She will follow her mentor, Principal Scott Snyder, who is being promoted to Assistant Director in Human Resources at Woodland's Educational Support Center.

"Being named principal of Woodland Middle School is a true honor and I am grateful to continue to serve the students, staff and families of District 50. I am ready to get to work with help from the staff, administrative team and parents to help our students take pride in who they are and what they can achieve," Mrs. Drake said.

She came to work at Woodland Middle School in 2000 as a sixth-grade social studies teacher after being a fourth and fifth grade teacher in Chicago Public Schools for six years. Before becoming assistant principal in 2005, she was a student intervention specialist at the Middle School.

Mrs. Drake is someone whose leadership skills are evident as she participates in the Woodland Equity and Inclusivity Committee and collaborates with others to ensure the district is consistently practicing equity and inclusion in district policies, curriculum and actions. As a district restorative practice coach and trainer, she has trained more than 100 staff members in the philosophy and practice of restorative justice, which is part of the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) framework. Her passion and ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships comes through in many ways, including as the organizer of the Latino Literacy program, which builds early college awareness by exploring cultural and familial situations that arise with Latino families.

"Hundreds of people in our school community, students, families, staff, and colleagues have been touched by Tiffany's compassion, ability to motivate others, humor and relentless focus on what is best for all children," Superintendent Dr. Joy A. Swoboda said.

Mrs. Drake earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a master's degree in school counseling from Northern Illinois University, and a master's degree in educational leadership from Aurora University.