Diann Woodard, president of the American Federation of School Administrators, member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council and former MSU Trustee, died May 6, 2018, after a long illness.
Woodard, whose career included 36 years as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor and assistant principal in Detroit’s public schools, also served an eight-year term as a trustee to her alma mater, Michigan State University. She distinguished herself in these roles as a tireless advocate for the right of all children to a quality public education from kindergarten through college.
Woodard, born July 10, 1951, is survived by her daughter, Kelly.
For the past nine years, Woodard commuted regularly from Michigan to Washington D.C., leading AFSA, where her keen intellect and powers of quiet persuasion were instrumental in forging an alliance with the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the National Association of Elementary School Principals, uniting advocacy efforts, which proved instrumental in securing new funding from Congress for principal training in the Every Student Succeeds Act passed in December 2015.
Before being elected president of AFSA, Woodard served for 16 years on the union’s General Executive Board.
In 2008, Woodard was elected to serve an eight-year term as a trustee to MSU. She also served as a board member of the labor school at Wayne State University and the labor board of the National Income Life Insurance Company, as well as on various local boards, including the United Way.
Woodard earned a bachelor’s degree from MSU and master’s and educational specialist’s degrees from Wayne State University. She also received training in labor management at Harvard University.
Arrangements are as follows:
Public Viewing:
Tuesday, May 15, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
James H. Cole Funeral Home
2624 West Grand Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48208
Wednesday, May 16
Family Hour: 12 p.m.
Funeral: 1 p.m.
Friendship Baptist Church
3900 Beaubien St.
Detroit, MI 48201
Burial: (immediately following funeral)
Woodlawn Cemetery
19975 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48203
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Woodard’s name to the School Leadership Forum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing professional development for school principals and assistant principals.
