Brittany Woodard of Chattanooga Remembered as Beloved Boyd Buchanan School 3rd Grade Teacher
CHATTANOOGA, The Chattanooga community is mourning the sudden loss of Brittany Woodard, a beloved third-grade teacher at Boyd Buchanan School whose death on Tuesday morning has left students, colleagues, parents, and friends heartbroken.
Woodard was widely known for her warmth, dedication, and deep commitment to her students. As a third-grade teacher at Boyd Buchanan School, she was admired for her compassion, positivity, and unwavering advocacy for the children in her care. Parents and colleagues alike described her as an educator who went above and beyond to ensure every student felt supported and valued.
Originally from Wetumpka, Alabama, Woodard attended Wetumpka High School before continuing her education at Auburn University at Montgomery. She later built her life and teaching career in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she lived with her husband, Henry Woodard, and their two children.
In a statement, Boyd Buchanan School expressed profound sorrow over her passing.
“Our school family is grieving the unexpected loss of Brittany Woodard, a beloved member of our faculty,” the statement read. “We invite our community to join us in prayer as we seek comfort and peace during this difficult time.”
The school announced a prayer vigil in her honor, scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at 5:30 p.m. in the Jett Gym. The vigil will also be livestreamed on the school’s website at bbschool.org under the “Livestream” section. School officials asked the community to continue lifting Woodard’s family, students, and faculty in prayer.
Tributes from parents and community members have highlighted the lasting impact Woodard had on her students. Nellionna Knox Kennedy, whose child was in Woodard’s class, shared a heartfelt message remembering her influence.
“We are so heartbroken about the passing of Caydence’s third-grade teacher Brittany Woodard,” Kennedy wrote. “She was the sweetest person with the most beautiful smile and laugh. She was Caydence’s biggest advocate with his ADHD and speech. I will forever be grateful for her. The halls and car rider line will not be the same without her.”
As the Chattanooga community comes together in grief, Brittany Woodard is being remembered as an exceptional educator, a loving wife and mother, and a person whose kindness and dedication touched countless lives. Her legacy lives on through the students she taught and the community she so deeply impacted.
