Tonya Woods, Ed.D.
Tonya Woods, Ed.D., is an accomplished educational leader with more than 30 years of dedicated service in the field of education. She currently serves as an Assistant Principal with Prince William County Public Schools in Manassas, Virginia, where she partners with school leadership to support high-quality instruction and equitable outcomes for all students. With a strong foundation in K–12 administration and instructional leadership, Dr. Woods is deeply committed to creating learning environments that are inclusive, student-centered, and academically rigorous. As an instructional leader, Dr. Woods is recognized for her expertise in coaching and developing educators. She supports teachers through best practices, data-driven instruction, professional development, and reflective dialogue within Collaborative Learning Teams (CLTs). Her leadership has been instrumental in strengthening school culture through the effective implementation of PBIS, Restorative Practices, MTSS, and differentiated instruction. She also supervises special education programs, ensuring compliance with IDEA, supporting IEP implementation, and guiding staff to meet the diverse needs of learners across the school community. Dr. Woods holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Administrative Leadership for Teaching and Learning from Walden University and completed advanced studies in Educational Leadership and Administration at the University of Virginia. Her scholarly work includes a published study on the relationship between prekindergarten experiences and kindergarten readiness. Known for her steady presence and servant leadership, Dr. Woods is passionate about mentoring educators, supporting families, and building sustainable school cultures that foster both academic excellence and student well-being.
• Administration and Supervision PreK-12
• Walden University - Ed.D.
• Junior National Young Leaders Conference
• Walden Alumni Ambassador
• Presidential Alumni Dissemination Award
• NAESP
What do you attribute your success to?
What I attribute to my success is my mother's guidance and my determination to never quick. I am able to make connections to the students I serve because I used to be them. I grew up poor but my mother worked hard to make sure we were loved and supported.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
People will forget what you've said but they will never forget how you made them feel. My character and integrity are important to me.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice I would give a young woman entering this field is to make sure you are entering the field from a genuine desire to make a difference. If you pursue this work for the money or to fulfill someone else’s dream, it will be difficult to sustain. Education is constantly changing, and sustainability requires you to be flexible, openness to learning, and the ability to adapt to the ongoing changes.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My biggest challenge in this field is the misconception held by individuals outside of education who believe they have all the answers about how children learn, despite having no experience working directly with children. Effective learning cannot occur when children face unstable environments or when their basic needs, such as food, safety, and care are not met.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values that apply to me at work and in my personal life is I value honesty, work on building trust, and walkibg with integrity. I intentionally treat people like I want to be treated, with respect.
Locations
Prince William County School
14715 Bristow Rd.,, Manassas, VA 20112