Porterville Unified School District Director of Curriculum and Instruction has been named as the Tulare County Administrator of the Year.
On Monday Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Tim Hire surprised the three winners named in the 31st Annual Tulare County Excellence in Education Awards program. Others honored were Heather Silva, 2025 Teacher of the Year, and Joanna Woodyatt, 2025 School Employee of the Year. Silva is an eighth grade teacher at Tulare's Alpine Vista School while Woodyatt is a registered behavior technician at Exeter's Rocky Hill Elementary School.
In March, a selection committee of Tulare County business and education leaders reviewed the nominees in each of the three categories. A total of 34 nominations were received this year from Tulare County school districts. Each nomination was scored individually by every member of the selection committee.
“The winners share a desire to give students the tools they need to be successful, both academically and socially,” Hire said. “It’s a pleasure to celebrate the winners, finalists, and nominees, who represent Tulare County education so well.”
PUSD stated Woodley was being celebrated for his commitment to teacher growth and student success, adding his leadership has elevated learning across the district.
Woodley has seved as the director of curriculum and instruction for six years. In his role he oversees instructional programs to advance student achievement, including English language development and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California, ELPAC. Woodley also leads the district’s instructional coaches and supports teachers to improve instructional practices, often modeling lessons in classrooms. Of his efforts, one district principal said, “our scores are increasing because of the collaboration with coaches and district support of curriculum and instruction initiatives.”
Woodley has been with PUSD for 21 years, beginning as a teacher before moving to school site administration. One of his high school students who now works for the district in the communications department remembers him as “one of the best teachers I’ve ever had…. His class wasn’t just about learning English – it was about learning how to think critically, communicate effectively, and express ideas with confidence.”
Woodley said he uses two foundational pillars to guide his work – systems and relationships. Within the instructional systems, he uses data to drive decision-making, saying, “If we cannot measure an outcome, we cannot replicate or improve it. Data provides us with direction, but it is our professional expertise and human judgment that allow us to turn numbers into meaningful action.”
PUSD board president Lillian Durbin praised Woodley for leading the district to digital learning and supporting teachers during the COVID pandemic.
Mathew Newcomb, the learning director for Lindsay's Lincoln Elementary School was also a finalist for the administrator award.
The winners will be honored at the 31st annual Tulare County Excellence in Education Awards to be held on Wednesday, October 22.
The Excellence in Education program is a partnership between the Tulare County Office of Education and Educational Employees Credit Union, EECU.