Ernie Woodard has been named the Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) 2025 Facilities and Construction Employee of the Year. Woodard has been employed with JCPS since 2019, beginning his tenure in the Carpenter III position, and in 2024 Woodard was promoted to Carpenter Foreman.
Born and raised in Princeton, both of Woodard’s parents were JCPS educators. His mother taught at Princeton and was heavily involved in the early stages of the Exceptional Children’s programs in North Carolina’s public schools. His father was the principal of Glendale-Kenly Elementary before the family moved to Goldsboro, where Woodard’s parents continued their careers as educators with Wayne County Public Schools.
What they taught Woodard from an early age was the value of hard work. Children whose parents are educators often spend a lot of time in the schools with their parents while they work, and Woodard was no exception. He watched his mom and dad model a work ethic that inspired him to give 100%, a trait that he exemplifies to this day.
Woodard graduated from Wayne Country Day School in Goldsboro and began his post-secondary education at Wayne Community College, and transferred to Johnston Community College to study electronics. He did not pursue a career in the field, though, because he always had a passion for building. That passion was sparked from watching his father build a house for his uncle one summer when Woodard was a young boy. Also, he learned that his great-grandfather helped to construct Brogden’s school, adding to that spark. “My daddy said it’s in our blood,” Woodard remarked.
Once he set his eyes on becoming a carpenter, Woodard never looked back. He landed a job with a residential construction company, gaining valuable practical experience. After several years in the homebuilding realm, Woodard went into the commercial building industry. Then, he decided to start his own maintenance business, and eventually, he and his brother established their own construction company. In the early 2000s, Woodard earned his general contractor’s license and had a successful career making dreams come true for lots of happy homeowners.
About 10 years ago, Woodard took a position with ST Wooten Corporation in their Bridge Division before moving on to become part of the Raleigh Restoration team. During that time, Woodard moved away from the construction side and began working with the insurance companies as a mediator between insurers and the homeowners. His work ethic remained steadfast, but he realized the daily commute to Raleigh was not sustainable long-term.
So, in 2019, Woodard applied for the position of Carpenter III with JCPS, and he began constructing his professional path with the school district. His supervisors immediately implored Woodard to work hard, assuring him that he would be rewarded. That’s exactly what he did. Although his title is now Carpenter Foreman, Woodard still sees himself as a peer with his coworkers, not as the supervisor. Whenever and wherever help is needed, he doesn’t hesitate to jump in and assist in any way necessary.
During the last six years with Johnston County Public Schools, Woodard has been amazed at the complete support he has received from his supervisors. “I can’t say enough good things about them. You can come here and get a lot of help to succeed. If you give 100%, people will notice. It’s up to you,” he said.
For Woodard, the most rewarding aspect of his career with JCPS is being part of a collaborative team, where his experience and expertise are valued. The carpentry department partners with painters, flooring specialists, and electricians to maintain the school district’s 53 buildings. They join forces to complete large projects that range from building new offices, to installing classroom walls, to roofing, which is a significant part of the team’s responsibilities. No matter the situation at hand, Woodard keeps a positive attitude. “We don’t have a problem unless we can’t fix it,” he said.
His work ethic and positive outlook are the reasons that Woodard was awarded the 2025 Employee of the Year for Facilities and Construction. “I am very honored. It takes everyone in Facilities and Construction to accomplish the projects laid before us,” Woodard said. “This award is another one of the great things that has happened in my career,” he added.
Woodard has seen significant changes and growth in Johnston County, and he plans to continue impacting students and staff by forging ahead with the maintenance of existing buildings and new ones, such as Swift Creek Elementary and Wilson’s Mills High. “It’s a privilege to be a part of that,” he said.