Years of tension with lawmakers led up to runoff for Georgia Superintendent Richard Woods

State Superintendent Richard Woods has told lawmakers multiple times that reading instruction in Georgia is on the right path – but they’re not buying it.

Now that discontent has helped drag Woods into a June 16 runoff for the Republican nomination with Candler County Superintendent Bubba Longgrear as he seeks a fourth term leading the state’s K-12 schools. The winner will face Democrat Lydia Powell in November.

“We can’t be the greatest state in the nation if our children can’t read,” said state Senate Education Committee Chairman Billy Hickman, a Statesboro Republican and the first lawmaker to endorse Longgrear.

Woods, who frequently visits schools to praise their achievements, says he’s focused on helping teachers nurture students, “serving people over politicians.”