Nikki Woodson

Nikki C. Woodson is a distinguished educational leader who served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township from 2011 to 2025. Under her leadership, the district—serving over 12,000 diverse students (67% students of color and 57% qualifying for free/reduced lunch) and nearly 1,800 employees—flourished with a strong commitment to academic excellence, equity, and innovation. She oversaw a comprehensive K-12 system, including one preschool, eight elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school, a career center, and multiple alternative and support programs.

Woodson made history as the first African-American female Superintendent in Marion County and one of the youngest in Indiana at the time. Her career spans a broad spectrum of educational roles, including Teacher, Special Education Program Manager, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Communications, Director of Staff Development, Director of Continuous Improvement, and Assistant Superintendent. Throughout her tenure, she has been dedicated to leading large urban public school districts in the Indianapolis area, championing student success and systemic improvements.

Academically, Woodson holds three post-secondary degrees from esteemed institutions: a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education from Ball State University, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Butler University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration & Curriculum/Instruction from Purdue University. She is also a published author on educational quality and a leadership columnist for an education-focused publication.

Woodson’s contributions have earned her numerous prestigious accolades. She was named the Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) by Ball State University, recognized as a Purdue University Fellow, and honored by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) for her dedication to children. She was also named Indy’s Best & Brightest in Education and received the "Breakthrough Woman of the Year" award for breaking barriers in her field. Further distinctions include being honored as International Educator of the Year by Global Indiana, receiving the Center for Leadership Development’s Achievement in Education award, and being a recipient of the American Association of School Administrators’ Women in School Leadership Award. She has also been celebrated with the Woman of the Year title, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Madam C.J. Walker Legacy Award. Additionally, she was selected as a Hoosier Fellow through the Tobias Executive Leadership Program.

Beyond her professional achievements, Woodson remains deeply engaged in the community. She has served on the boards of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Home, Young Audiences of Indiana, the IUPUI Collegiate Board of Advisors, and the IHSAA Foundation, as well as on the national board of Challenge Day. Her influence extends internationally through her work with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Board of Governors and the IB Regional & Head Council. In 2014, she was among 100 superintendents nationwide invited by President Obama to the inaugural Future Ready White House Summit, recognizing her commitment to advancing education in the 21st century.

Woodson’s legacy is one of transformative leadership, advocacy for equity, and an unwavering dedication to empowering students, educators, and communities for a brighter future. After retirement in 2025 from K-12 education, Woodson enjoys mentoring administrators, consulting and keynote speaking, serving on the Tobias Leadership Center Advisory Board as well as serving as a Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor for the Educational Leadership & Policy Department at Indiana University School of Education (Bloomington, IN).