Michael Woods

Special Education Teacher School District of Palm Beach County, Florida

Michael (he, him, his / they, them, there) has been an educator for more than three decades and has been a long-time racial and social justice trainer and ally. He started as a trainer for the ADL (Anti-Defamation League’s) in its “Classroom of Difference” program in the early 1990’s – or late 1900s as his students call it. He is proud to be a Master Holocaust Educator and has travelled to Germany, Poland, and Prague, with his best friend and survivor, Norman. He currently sits on the Teacher Holocaust Studies Oversight Committee. His focus is in Anti-Racism and cultural competence. He is a member of the Florida Education Association Racial Inequities Task Force. He serves as the senior representative of the National Education Association Resolutions Committee (elected, representing Florida) currently serves as the appointed national co-chair of the NEA Resolutions Subcommittee on Immigration and Rights. He is a previous Board Member of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association (term limited). He has transition back into his role as the Chairperson of the Human and Civil Rights and Minority Affairs Committees (previous Board Liaison). He is a former Governance Board Member of the Florida Education Association (term limited). Michael continues to serve on the FEA Minority Affairs Standing Committee. Locally,
he continues to serve on the School District of Palm Beach County Safe Schools Oversight Committee for Human Growth and Development – a topic under attack in Florida schools.

Michael was recognized by the South Florida Gay News as a member of the “Out50 – 50 Most Influential LGBTQ People in South Florida (2017). He is a recipient of the “Ruby Slipper Award” for LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Leadership from Metropolitan Community Church as well as a recipient of the 2015 Compass LGBTQ+ Center Leadership Award. He has served as the Treasurer for the Board of Trustees of Compass LGBTQ Center in Lake Worth Beach, FL for the past 20 years. He has been a Special Olympics Florida Tier II National Certified Coach for more than 20 years and was recognized as Florida’s Inspirational Coach of the Year for Florida (Palm Beach County). He has been nominated for the Florida Education Award Human and Civil Rights Award by his local union. For fun, he coaches a cycling team “Team the Goonies” who fundraise for the Southernmost AIDS Ride (SMART Ride) – a ride from Miami to Key West – raising millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS+ service providers and centers.

Michael has interviewed extensively in the areas of LGBTQ+ Equity and Rights and the impact of laws – including in the
area of “banned books” on students, faculty and community members. He has co-authored two workshops on Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion (Creating Equity and Allyship Through Understanding (CEATU) and Beyond Equity and Allyship
Through Understanding (BEATU) as well as a workshop on LGBTQ+ quality and Rights. He has presented on both topics
at the local, state, and national levels. He is a tireless UPStander and advocate and ally for all marginalized individuals.