April 7, 2026 - The Deep East Texas Branch of National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - Texas honored Sheila Woodard, a Shelbyville native, during their Annual Social Work Month Banquet and Awards Luncheon on March 31, 2026 in Nacogdoches.
Sheila Woodard
Woodard was recognized as an outstanding individual and received the Public Citizen of the Year award. This award is given to a non-social worker for their outstanding community service and unwavering dedication. The award stated, “Sheila [Woodard] is honored as Public Citizen of the Year for her tireless work uplifting youth and families, fostering connections, and creating meaningful change both locally and beyond.”
Sheila Woodard graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. Sheila taught Kindergarten for 16 years, and a Reading Interventionist for 1 year. She has volunteered with Nac-in-Action, Nac Can Coalition, BeYOUtiful Gurlz, and currently United Way. Sheila is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Sheila has traveled to Ghana, West Africa and distributed backpacks with school supplies, books, and computers to a local elementary school in a village in Salt Pond. She started a Parent Advisory Committee in Shelby and Nacogdoches Counties to provide free events for youth and families to spend quality time with each other and have fun! Sheila is on the board of 21/7 where they collaborated with CIP (Community Improvement Plan) and NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) to administer a $20,000 grant to help serve families in Nacogdoches. With this grant, she has helped provide 250 brown bag lunches for students that were out of school for a break, and gave backpacks with school supplies to students both in school and college. Sheila is part of Hunger Free Nac Coalition, a committee to address food insecurities in Nacogdoches County. She currently works at Deep East Texas Council of Governments for FAYS (Families and Youth Success Program) as a Family Support Specialist. Sheila is driven by the passion of working with at risk youth and their families to create a positive change in our community. Her dedication to volunteering and helping others is truly commendable.
Woodard’s award was one of nine awards given during the awards banquet. Also, recognized were Elected Official of the Year Award – Angela Spencer; Media Award - Dr. Evelyn Sauceda, LSSP, NSCP, RTSBA; Organization / Agency of the Year Award - Christian Women’s Job Corps (Jasmine Hassan); Student of the Year Award BSW - Keaton Hill; Student of the Year Award MSW - Megan Whiteside, MA; Student of the Year Award Doctoral - Jane Michelle Thompson-Janis, MSW; Social Worker of the Year Award - Karmen Kopriva, LMSW; and Lifetime Achievement Award - Robert Hamilton Jr., LBSW.
NASW-TX Deep East Texas Branch covers the following counties: Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler.
