Newest Area School Officials Focus on 2020

Martin, Randy                      Wood, Randy

Area students will see a few new administrative faces when they return to school in August.

At Roland Schools, Randy Martin has taken the reins as superintendent. He was hired to replace Randy Wood, who left Roland to take the superintendent position in Sallisaw.

“We’re here for our students,” Martin said. “We will do everything we can to give them a good future,” he added. Martin also said he wants to be a good steward of the funding the school receives.

Some of that funding came from a pair of bond issues earmarked for school improvements. 

Before leaving Roland, Wood led the campaign to get the bond issues passed. One of the bonds will allow construction of an event center that will include a storm shelter for up to 3,500 people. The second bond will be used to buy two new camera-equipped school buses. 

Martin credits his father, also a longtime educator, for his success and for his strong work ethic. “Wherever I am, I will work for you. I will do what needs to be done,” he said, adding that the most important thing is “being there for our students. I can’t overemphasize that.”

Randy Wood said he is thrilled to be back in Sallisaw after 18 years as Roland Schools’ superintendent. “It feels good to come back. I’ve come full circle in my career,” he said. “This is a good place.” 

“I believe we should educate every child, regardless of their ethnicity or their socioeconomic status,” Wood said.

Wood, who originally wanted to be a pharmacist, said he is a “people person with an open-door policy” at Sallisaw. 

“If I had any success in my career, it is by surrounding myself with good people and allowing them to do their jobs,” he said. 

Wood said he thought he would retire at Roland, but the opportunity to lead Sallisaw Schools was too good to pass up.

Wood was hired to replace superintendent Jeremy Jackson, who, Wood said, has been instrumental in helping him to hit the ground running.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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