Dr. Sandra Wood never expected to become a superintendent. Growing up in Michigan City, she spent summers along Lake Michigan and dreamed of becoming an English professor, but as life often goes, one step led to another. Wood eventually found herself not just leading a classroom, but shaping the future of an entire district.
“I never really thought I would move into administration,” Wood said. “I thought being a principal would just be a stepping stone to becoming a professor. Once I got into it, I realized it felt like a good fit.”
Today, Wood serves as the superintendent of the La Porte Community School Corporation. With a career that evolved through teaching Spanish, earning multiple degrees, and rising through administrative ranks, she now oversees decisions that impact thousands of students every day.
“Being at the district level, I get to influence every student,” Wood said. “That means thinking about kindergarten readiness, walking across the stage at graduation, and everything in between.”
Wood’s leadership is rooted in strategic planning. La Porte Community School Corporation follows a district-wide strategic plan designed to align school initiatives, assess data, and anticipate the needs of future graduates.
“We’re always asking, ‘What will students need in five years?’” Wood said. “The job market changes. Our community’s needs change. We need to be ready.”
One of her most innovative moves has been in communication. This year, she launched “Inside La Porte Schools,” a podcast that aims to provide transparency and build trust with the community.
“You can put something on social media or in a newsletter, but a podcast lets people hear the voices of our staff and students,” Wood said. “It’s a way to connect.”
The podcast has even tackled criticism, something Wood believes strong leadership requires. In a two-part episode on the Kessling Campus, she invited staff members to address community concerns about the school’s model and layout.
“I think people appreciated hearing directly from the people inside the building,” Wood said. “We’re not just going to talk about sunshine and rainbows. We want to be real and transparent.”
That same transparency guided the district’s difficult decision to close and repurpose Lincoln Elementary due to declining enrollment.
“It’s a trend across the nation. Birth rates are down,” Wood said. “We’ve lost about 700 students over the last decade. That affects our funding.”
Instead of simply closing the building, Lincoln will now become La Porte’s early childhood center, offering 3-to-5-year-olds access to HighScope, a research-based, play-driven curriculum. Full-day care will also be available, a game-changer for working families.
“We see this as an opportunity,” Wood said. “We’re creating something that adds real value to the district and the community.”
Another major initiative is the new career and technical education (CTE) center, housed in a repurposed middle school. Programs in welding and health careers are already in motion, with partnerships formed with local employers like New York Blower. These programs offer hands-on learning, college credits, and industry certifications before graduation.
“We want students to be ready, whether they go to college or straight into the workforce,” Wood said. “These programs are built for that.”
Outside of work, Wood recharges with her family. She and her husband are raising two young sons, Leo and Donovan, who are just beginning their school journeys.
“They remind me every day why this work matters,” Wood said. “It’s about the kids. Always.”
Though she describes herself as a bit of a homebody, Wood has become one of the Region’s most forward-thinking educational leaders. She quietly shapes a district by leading with transparency, vision, and heart.