Staff Spotlight: Tracy Wooden with two Indispensable Roles for Stockbridge Community Schools

by Amy Haggerty

Tracey Wooden fulfills an important behind-the-scenes role in the Stockbridge school district. She supervises a fleet of bus drivers and is the liaison for administrators and parents. She oversees the bus system that moves students to and from school each day. In short, Wooden fulfills indispensable roles.

Wooden was first hired in 2006 as a business manager responsible for all record-keeping and the operating finances for the school district. In 2012 she took on the role of Transportation Director, working with kindergarten through twelfth graders and making sure day-to-day operations of the school run smoothly.

Wooden, who grew up in Reading, Mich. on a lake, credits her father, Bill, for providing for his family and conveying his work ethic.

“He taught me the importance of a hard work ethic and of being honest,” Wooden said. Perhaps this positive paternal influence explains why she grew a confident person who tackles problems head on and with ease.

Coming to Stockbridge Schools was a personal goal for her and when she saw the district posted a Business Manager vacancy job, “I applied and was first interviewed by Bruce Brown, Superintendent.”

After a second round of interview by the Board of Education, Wooden was hired “to assist in Mr. Brown’s retirement transition to a new Superintendent within my area of expertise of school finances.”

Wooden does her best to live by the motto, “I never ask anyone to do anything that I’m not willing to do alongside them. I call working at SCS, Living the Dream!”

On August 17, 1996, she married Dan Wooden. She considers raising their two children, Dean, 21, and Paige, 19 as her greatest accomplishment. Her second greatest accomplishment? Her master’s degree, received in April this year.

“Before COVID-19, Dean, Paige and I were all to graduate in May 2020 together,” she said.

Wooden likes the variety that comes of working for Stockbridge Schools. “Each day is different and keeps my job interesting,” she said. “I’m thankful for all the experienced staff that I get to work with and have truly gotten to know over the years. Stockbridge is a wonderful community to work in and live in.”

Wooden offers this advice to Stockbridge students. “Never be afraid to be a lifelong learner. You are never too old to learn something new.”

Judging from her new graduate degree, Wooden practices what she preaches. Perhaps this willing spirit accounts for her vital role in the critical, everyday functions of Stockbridge Community Schools.

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