Administration

Rachel Walters, Principal

Rachel Walters proudly serves as the Principal of Woodway Elementary. With more than 30 years of experience in education, she has dedicated her career to creating positive learning environments where students, staff, and families thrive. Her experience includes roles as a special education teacher, elementary teacher, assistant principal, and principal in both Texas and Florida.

Before joining Woodway Elementary, Rachel served as principal of Tinker Pre-K-8 School in Tampa, Florida, where she led a high-performing school serving military-connected families and was recognized for academic excellence and strong community partnerships. She has a proven track record of improving student achievement, supporting teacher growth, and building collaborative relationships with families and community stakeholders.

Mrs. Walters holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Ball State University and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida. She also completed the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals through Teachers College, Columbia University.

As principal, Mrs. Walters is committed to ensuring that every student receives a high-quality education in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment. She believes strong partnerships between school, home, and community are essential to student success and is honored to serve the students, families, and staff of Woodway Elementary.

Kandice Merchant, Assistant Principal

Kandice Merchant brings more than 20 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, math coach, and school administrator. She is passionate about instructional leadership, developing teachers, building strong school systems, and creating learning environments where students feel supported, challenged, and successful.

Mrs. Merchant believes every child deserves access to an excellent education, with no excuses and no exceptions. She values strong relationships with students, staff, and families and is committed to helping both students and educators grow, achieve, and thrive.