William John Wood of Hinesville has been selected for the 2014 Young Gamechangers program.
According to georgiaforward.org, Young Gamechangers brings together select Georgians younger than 40 years old to help solve pressing policy challenges. The statewide program focuses each year on a different location in Georgia; the 2014 project is in Dublin-Laurens County.
An Oklahoma native, Wood moved to Georgia 10 years ago to coach football at Bradwell Institute and teach government and U.S. history. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, a master’s in educational administration from Northeastern State University, and an education specialist in curriculum leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Currently, Wood is working toward a Master of Public Administration from Valdosta State University. He has taught history and coached football, baseball and basketball for the past 18 years in the Alaskan bush, Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia.
In addition to his career in education, Wood works as a journalist and photographer, covering everything from the Oklahoma City bombing to sports and politics. He is the senior feature writer for Southeast Georgia’s In the Game magazine and also serves as a football-recruiting analyst to different groups.
Politically, he has served three terms as chairman of the Liberty County Republican Party and two terms as vice chairman of the 1st Congressional District Republican Committee. Working in the political arena since a teenager, Wood has served candidates in every capacity and currently is the co-chairman for the campaign of Dr. Bob Johnson, Republican candidate for the 1st District Congressional District.
Wood is married to Dell McLean. They have two boys, John McLean, 5, and Baylor, 4.