Darrick Wood
Weldon City Schools
Darrick Darrell Wood earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems from Elizabeth City State University in 2001. In 2008, he obtained his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Eight years later Darrick received a Global Career Development Facilitator certification from the Center for Credentialing & Education, Inc.
Darrick has received several awards for volunteer/community service. In 2015, he was a Champion Finalist in the Roanoke Valley for providing outstanding community service and care for others, creating a positive environment and a better community to live and work. Darrick is an active Omega Psi Phi, Inc. member, and uses this organization’s mission to enhance the lives of young people. He volunteers his time and expertise through parks and recreational youth activities.
As the Pathways Program coordinator, Darrick collaborates with the Chamber of Commerce to provide freshmen students across the valley leadership skills and knowledge about industries, health science and local government. He has taught classes and arranged activities for his school district’s first National Academy Foundation Health Science cohort that begins in 9th grade and extends through their senior year. Darrick’s second community-based collaboration has been with Chick-fil-a. Through this partnership he is implementing the Chick-fil-a Leader Academy for all grade level high school students.
Prior to Darrick’s selection to the Pirate Leadership Academy, he served as the Career Development Coordinator for Weldon STEM High School Career Academies where he coordinated career planning activities individually and in small and large groups. Additionally, he administrated and interpreted career assessments for students, and guided students as they explored postsecondary education programs and employment opportunities. Darrick is the duty expert in developing and arranging work-based learning activities that include college and industry tours, guest speakers, career and college day, internships and several other activities to enhance student exposure and experience. For the past three years, Darrick has partnered with Roanoke Electric company as an active member of the Operational Roundup Committee. He has served as secretary and is currently the chair.
Darrick hopes to gain the knowledge and expertise from his PLA experiences to become a skilled school administrator of an elementary or middle school. His guiding philosophies include the following:
- “I am determined and strive for success. I learn from my mistakes as well as from things I have done well. I use everyday life as my professional development and always remember to tackle one day at a time. I empower people that I help and will continue to exemplify my leadership abilities in all endeavors.”
- “You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war.” — Napoleon Bonaparte
- “Excuses are tools of the incompetent, they are used to build monuments of nothingness, those who use them seldom accomplish anything.”