Administration & Staff
Wood Acres provides a well balanced faculty and staff which embodies youthful talent and enthusiasm together with depth of experience.
Wood Acres teachers come from all over the United States as well as across the ocean. They have been marine biologists in San Diego and primary teachers in England. They are grandmothers and newlyweds. They have southern accents and speak Spanish as beautifully as English. What knits them together is a passion for teaching, a respect for children, and a commitment to learning excellence. Couple the unique talents of our teachers with Wood Acres’ low pupil-teacher ratio and you have the perfect balance for successful teaching and learning.
During the 2009-2010 academic year, Grammar School and Upper School teachers are participating in an in depth professional learning program on campus centered on Understanding by Design: Curriculum Mapping & Integration. Early school teachers participate in ongoing staff development and curriculum study specific to their age group.
Administrative Team
Head of School
Judy T. Thigpen
Education & Experience
Judy T. Thigpen
Head of SchoolMrs. Judy Thigpen hails from northeastern Pennsylvania and completed her undergraduate dual degree in Elementary Education and Spanish with honors at Juniata College. She earned her Masters of Arts in teaching from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where she held a Spanish teaching assistantship during her tenure on campus.
Mrs. Thigpen continued her studies at Georgia State University, gaining her leadership credentials, and later served as a board member of the Georgia State Principals Center. She has also studied at the University of Valencia in Spain, Harvard University’s Principal Center, and did doctoral work through Nova Southeastern University. She is fluent in Spanish and has established personal and professional relationships with both the Universidad de Salamanca and the Universidad Pontificia in Salamanca, Spain through her annual visits there as a chaperone for AP Spanish immersion students at Walton High School.
Mrs. Thigpen has been a classroom teacher, administrative assistant, assistant principal, and principal of Sedalia Park Charter School and Sope Creek Elementary School, both in Cobb County. She has been a keynote speaker throughout the state, especially on the topics of school climate, student achievement, and educational leadership.
Coming to Wood Acres eight years ago, Mrs. Thigpen saw both the reality of a fine proprietary school and the dream of what The Wood Acres School could become. The dream is now being realized.
Upper School Dean & Academic Advisor
Maria Thigpen
Education & Experience
Maria Thigpen
Upper School DeanMrs. Maria Thigpen grew up in the suburban community of Kingwood outside of Houston, Texas, but has deep family roots on the north fork of Long Island, New York. She began her undergraduate studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, moved to Georgia, and completed her undergraduate degree in education with honors at Georgia State University.
Mrs. Thigpen received her Masters degree in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia. She taught for Gwinnett County Public Schools before beginning her career in private education. Mrs. Thigpen has been a classroom teacher, ESOL teacher, president of the PTA, staff development instructor, and coordinator of new teacher training.
She began her time at The Wood Acres School as an Upper School teacher and now serves as the Dean of the Upper School and Academic Advisor as well as uses her expertise in test data analysis and staff development.
Admissions & Student Services
Faith Hoople
Financial Services & Facilities
Jenny Tischer
Accreditation & Curriculum
Ashley Nellis
Please visit our
Careers page if you are interested in joining the Wood Acres faculty. We are always looking for talented teachers, teaching assistants, and substitute teachers.
