Carol Woodbury, Dennis-Yarmouth schools chief retires, promoted 'sense of belonging'

SOUTH YARMOUTH — When the pandemic hit in 2020 and schools morphed into an online enterprise, Carol Woodbury, the superintendent of the Dennis-Yarmouth School District, made sure that more than just the students' minds were being fed.

In the pandemic's early days, Woodbury and her team delivered the free lunches and breakfasts offered during the regular school day to children throughout the district.

“We knew how important these meals were for children and we made sure we continue to provide such services,” she said.

“We create miracles here,” said Woodbury, 67, in an interview with the Times at her office on her last day on the job, June 30. “We make a difference for the kids that we serve. Everyone in my team brings their 'A' game to the table everyday.”

'A sense of belonging is the most important thing you can have'

Woodbury preached inclusion before it became an educational mainstay.

“What I learned in my life is that a sense of belonging is the most important thing you can have,” said Woodbury. “If kids don’t feel like they belong because of the color of their skin, their race or their inability to speak English or for any other reason, then we can’t give them what they need and so it all starts with that sense of belonging.”

“I was just the leader of this district along with the School Committee; but it’s not about me, it’s about what we all do together every day,” she said.

Woodbury firmly believes that it does take a village to raise children, and she loved being one of the "village people."

'Always the biggest support of the staff'

Woodbury makes it mandatory "to know everyone’s name and learn about all the events that are happening, not just in the high school, in every school in her district,” said Kendra Bennett, principal of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. “She’s always aware of what’s going on in every school and the staff and the students are used to her presence in every event.”

“She’s always the biggest supporter of the staff at D-Y,” said Bennett.

Whether it’s a grant approval, or the staff wants to initiate a new program, "if you can present something to her and are willing to work for it, she’ll always be supportive,” Bennett said.

Under Woodbury's leadership the number of dropouts plunged

Woodbury faced several challenges in her 18 years. She began as superintendent on Oct. 31, 2005.

At the time, schools throughout the state including those on Cape Cod were struggled with high dropout rates among high schoolers, according to Woodbury. Over the years, several initiatives and programs made a difference for the D-Y school district, she said.

In the 2007-2008 school year, 41 students dropped out of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, according to state information.

“Our dropout rates are significantly lower now. Last year, only 16 kids dropped out but even so, some of them got their GED,” she said. D-Y has a strong partnership with MassHire, a state jobs program, and through that the district makes sure that everyone either gets their GED or passes the MCAS exams.

During Woodbury’s tenure, the D-Y district started appointing guidance counselors at the middle school level; fifth and sixth graders started having access to counselors to discuss their future plans.

"It helps students set goals for themselves with their academics and extracurricular activities," she said.

The student to counselor ratio has also been taken into consideration so each student can individualize their schedule and goals accordingly.

Now students are taking advanced placement classes, to help guide mindsets

At the high school level, students are now taking advanced placement classes. These classes are crucial for students to get into the college mindset.

“We've stepped up the number of advanced placement classes that we have,” said Woodbury, who is a member of the Yarmouth Scholarship Committee and the Education Foundation.

The D-Y high school has a partnership with Cape Cod Community College and a dual enrollment program.

Such initiatives help students get what they need and, according to Woodbury, that is how schools make a difference.

According to her, school districts are like living organisms, constantly evolving.

“They are always responding to what's going on in the world, and we wanted to make sure that the education that we give our kids here is the best that we can give,” she said.

One of Woodbury's first moves was to initiate free full-day kindergarten

The D-Y district is aiming to launch more programs to train students for more jobs. Currently the district has a career pathways program in social service and health services.

This year, the second class to have free full-day kindergarten graduated from the high school. One of the first initiatives Woodbury took as a superintendent was to initiate free full-day kindergarten for everyone in the district.

“When I first came here and saw that they had full-day kindergarten but only for people who could afford to pay, I knew we were leaving out the very kids we wish would come to the school,” said Woodbury.

Woodbury was also a member of the state’s first Curriculum Frameworks Development Committee for Mathematics. “I was always good at numbers, I still am,” Woodbury said with  a smile.

'My parents taught us to work hard'

Woodbury has lived in Marstons Mills since 2005.

Eldest of eight siblings, Woodbury was born in Florida and raised in New York. She attended the State University of New York, Geneseo for her undergraduate degree and later received her master’s degree in special education from Westfield State University in Massachusetts.

Of her siblings, another sister went on to become a teacher. While her sisters went to college, all of her brothers attended vocational high schools and went on to become electricians.

Woodbury's father was in the U.S. Air Force in his early career and then he joined the electricians union and eventually went on to open his own business. Her mother worked a number of different jobs and obtained a two-year business degree afterwards.

“My parents taught us to work hard, we didn’t have much but we had a sense of purpose in life,” she shared. “I am the perfect example of how education can make a difference in your life; I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parents and my education.”

She underscored that any success the district had was due to hard work from a lot of people.

"I wanted to be in a place where I could stay long enough to make a difference," she said. “D-Y has afforded me that opportunity and they appreciated the hard work that I put in. but it wasn’t me alone, it was my entire team.”

Rasheek Tabassum Mujib writes about health care and education. Reach her at rmujib@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Retiring Dennis-Yarmouth schools chief says success was a team effort