Spencer DeWoody, Redwood’s wellness coordinator, is the heart of the Wellness Center, known as the person students can rely on for support, stability or simply a listening ear. Whether he is guiding a student through a stressful moment or helping them build coping strategies, DeWoody’s focus is always on understanding what teens truly need.
DeWoody has a way of making students feel understood, yet a high school counseling role wasn’t something he had initially envisioned for himself. Like many students after graduating high school, he wasn’t sure what career he wanted to pursue.
“I had no motivation to be in school until I took my first psychology class, and it really just lit me up,” DeWoody said.
Once he began counseling at a private school, he realized that he wanted more formal training, so he returned to school and got his master’s degree in social work.
After earning his master’s degree, DeWoody took a break to raise his three children. He returned to therapy work around the time COVID-19 hit.
Before coming to Redwood, DeWoody worked at various private schools, elementary schools and middle schools, before deciding to commit to high school therapy work.
“I knew this was the space for me. There is just an energy of a high school,” DeWoody said.
As the wellness coordinator, DeWoody spends time in classrooms psychoeducating students about anxiety and depression, but also has one-on-one check-ins with students behind closed doors.
Being the sole wellness coordinator on campus means that DeWoody’s days rarely look the same. He is constantly balancing the different emotional needs of students with the realities of high school life.
“I try to bring empathy and kindness every day,” DeWoody said. “I also try to bring a sense of humor, because life is hard enough, and sometimes we take ourselves a little too seriously.”
While DeWoody brings his own unique approach to the Wellness Center, those who work alongside him notice the impact of his presence on campus.
Wellness outreach specialist Hajra Yacoobali, who works closely with DeWoody, describes the incredible dedication he shows to his students.
“One thing that I noticed from day one was how much he cares about the people that he works with, especially the students. He is always coming down to match their level, meeting them where they are at,” Yacoobali said.
People who visit the Wellness Center echo a similar experience, describing DeWoody as someone who can make difficult moments feel more manageable.
Senior Kage Watson describes DeWoody as a calm, collected and trustworthy person.
“He’s not one of the adults that you think will be disappointed in you; he takes everything at face value, and just lets you talk,” Watson said. “He’s kind of like the fun uncle of Redwood, and everyone needs a fun uncle.”
With humor, empathy and kindness, DeWoody continues to connect with students in a meaningful way.
“I think sometimes students don’t realize the impact that they have on my life and the decisions that I make, like in parenting or personal life,” DeWoody said.
While high school students are experiencing the most formative time of their lives, this stage brings rapid change and presents numerous challenges. For many teens, these challenges can accumulate quietly but heavily. DeWoody serves as a steady reminder that support is always within reach, and asking for help should never be a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength.
