Janelle Woodward

Education and Credentials

• EdD – Educational Leadership; Master’s Degree – Education Administration; CA Teaching Credential, Clear Administrative Services Credential, CLAD

Dr. Janelle Woodward is a distinguished scholar-practitioner with more than three decades of leadership experience across K–12 and higher education. She brings deep expertise in educational leadership, teacher preparation, research design, leadership coaching and equity-centered school transformation to her work as adjunct faculty and dissertation committee chair/member at Concordia University Irvine. Central to her professional calling is a deep commitment to investing in students—academically, professionally, and personally—by mentoring them with intentionality, rigor, and care.

In her higher education roles at California Polytechnic University, Pomona; Vanguard University and Concordia University, Dr. Woodward has taught graduate courses in educational leadership and research methodology, visionary change reform, and best instructional practices for teachers. She has experience guiding master and doctoral candidates through their research journeys. Her approach emphasizes rigorous scholarship paired with individualized mentorship, ensuring that students not only complete their programs successfully but also develop the confidence, clarity, and ethical grounding necessary for sustained leadership impact.

Prior to her work in higher education, Dr. Woodward served as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning in Pleasanton Unified School District, where she led districtwide instructional improvement initiatives, implemented a comprehensive equity framework, redesigned leadership systems, and directed instructional continuity planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Senior Leadership Associate (Director II) at the Riverside County Office of Education, she coached school principals and administrative candidates, facilitated countywide professional learning networks, and founded the Top Scholars Awards Program to recognize continuation high school students.

Dr. Woodward also served as principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for over 15 years. With her leadership, schools achieved district-record achievement and graduation rates, earned AVID National Demonstration status, and received California Distinguished School recognition. She is widely recognized for transforming school culture, strengthening instructional systems, and building leadership capacity.

A recipient of multiple honors—including Cal Poly Pomona “Alumni of the Year,” Riverside USD “Principal of the Year,” Riverside “PTA Principal of the Year,” and two-time Models of Excellence Award recipient—Dr. Woodward is passionate about developing transformational leaders who advance excellence through equity. Her scholarly and professional interests include educational leadership development, organizational change and communication, data-driven practices, and instructional coaching.

Through her combined experience as a district and school leader, executive coach, and university faculty member, Dr. Woodward remains deeply committed to investing in the growth of each student she serves—equipping emerging leaders to bridge research and practice as they lead schools and organizations with wisdom, integrity, and purpose.

Courses Taught

• Dissertation Committee Member (Ongoing),; Dissertation Chair (Spring, 2026); EDEA 707: Sustained Fiscal Leadership for Organizational Effectiveness (Summer, 2026)

Areas of Expertise

• Instructional and Administrative Leadership, School Based Data Analysis, Executive Leadership Coaching, Research Design