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Interment of
William L. "Bill" Woods
MACE Advocacy.
Serving and Protecting Teachers
The MACE Staff Attorney,
William Woods, Esq.,
grew up in Jonesboro, Georgia, and attended Emory University where he earned an undergraduate degree in political
science. After college he taught history in the Clayton County School District for four years
until he was accepted to the Georgia State University School of Law from which he earned a degree.
After being admitted to the Georgia Bar, Attorney Woods practiced law in Jonesboro until
joining with Dr. Trotter to form MACE. (Attorney Woods also has a
creative side, evidenced in his recently issued book of poetry, The Burger Boy, published by Cherokee Publishing
Company.)
The MACE Legal Services Department assists members in filing grievances (complaints) against their administrators/supervisors. Attorney
Woods guides the teachers concerning
the language of the grievance, the appropriate law under which the grievance should be filed, and the timelines. The grievance law was passed in 1992, and it is codified as O.C.G.A. 20-2-989.5 et seq. Either Attorney Woods or Dr. Trotter represents the teachers in the various levels of hearings. If a school board attempts
to terminate, suspend, or demote a teacher in the middle of a contract
year, the teacher has a right to be represented by counsel during a hearing – even if the teacher is not tenured (O.C.G.A.
20-2-940). If a school board attempts to non-renew a teacher’s
contract, the teacher again has a right to a non-renewal hearing – provided that teacher is tenured (O.C.G.A. 20-2-942). The Georgia law says that only a superintendent (not a principal, assistant principal,
et al.) has a right to reprimand a teacher for various reasons; however, the teacher has a right to be represented
in a reprimand hearing (O.C.G.A. 20-2-944). Teachers have certain rights
under both State and Federal statutory laws and State and Federal constitutional law, but if teachers don’t know
of their rights, then they can’t exercise them.
One of the main areas that MACE assists its members is
in the writing of rebuttals to skewed, jaded, and inaccurate evaluations. So many administrators use the
evaluation process in a manipulative, punitive, and retributive manner. It is used to control teachers, to shut them up, to
take teachers down a notch or two, and/or to set up teachers for termination. MACE has a reputation
for writing searing, acerbic, and poignant rebuttals and letters on behalf of its members. The administrators
must be trained when it comes to messing with a MACE member. The administrators soon realize that if they attempt to
use the evaluation process to mess with a MACE member, then MACE will assist
that member in drafting a response which will expose the administrator to his/her administrative superiors and to school board
members.
Poet and long-time MACE attorney,
Bill "Wood-man" Woods, has passed away of a heart attack. We pray for his family, and we lament his absence.
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| Attorney Woods advocates on behalf of a MACE member at a local hearing! |
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| Briefcase in hand, Attorney Woods leaves to represent teacher at a termination tribunal! |
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| Attorney Woods has much experience and great insight in education law! |
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| Attorney Woods discusses the MACE agenda with Congressman Scott! |
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