Betty R. Wood is a native of South Carolina. She graduated from Winthrop University with a degree in psychology and began her professional career as Clinical Counselor at South Carolina State Mental Hospital, working with adults and children. She earned her teacher certification in special education through graduate courses at Winthrop University and teaching elementary special education in the public schools and then moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where she worked with first-time offenders in a therapeutic community and with public school teachers providing educational services for children with specific learning differences. Betty earned a master’s degree in school and clinical psychology from Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania.

Relocating to Atlanta in 1978, Betty earned school psychometry certification at Georgia State University and completed doctoral courses at The Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California. She taught sixth and children at The Schenck School for Dyslexic children and administered psychoeducational evaluations for admissions to the school.

Betty also established a private practice working with families whose children were experiencing learning difficulties in public and private schools in the Atlanta area. In 2001 she began working in cooperative preschools while maintaining a private practice in the afternoon and evenings. Over time and increased awareness of the personal needs of her clients, Betty changed the focus of her practice from clinical treatment to the prevention of pathology in children and adults through personal coaching and educational consultation.

Betty joined Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool Staff as Director in April 2008, after having worked as Director of Inman Park Cooperative Preschool for seven years. Betty has been a strong supporter of OCP since its inception in 2005 and has served on the OCP Advisory Board. Professionally committed to the philosophy that children thrive when the family and school work together in the best interest of the child, Betty finds the cooperative preschool educational model ideal in educating young children and parents. Betty is the proud parent of E.R. Anderson, freelance writer and Executive Director of Charis Circle.

Play Garden Party

By OCP

Play Garden Party

A celebration of Betty Wood in her retirement from OCP