Destined for Duluth, Dr. Kara Woodley moved her family of six from the heat of Houston to the cool shoreline of Lake Superior for a fresh start, where she began a meaningful new role at the University of Wisconsin–Superior.
With her charming southern accent, it is clear that Dr. Kara Woodley isn’t a native Duluthian. Indeed, she was born and raised in Houston, Texas.
Woodley and her family, including her husband, Jeremy, their four children, and two pets, relocated to the Twin Ports in June 2023 for a job opportunity.
She is now an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Department of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS), a tenure-track faculty position. The Woodley family currently lives in Superior, near the University.
Since arriving, Jeremy has also landed a great job here. He is a Pastor for two local United Methodist Churches.
While they have much fondness for their home state, the Woodleys definitely don’t miss the heat. “We did a nationwide search for my next job, and we knew we wanted to move north,” Kara said.
“All six of us love adventure, and being outside, hiking, and camping. We also love state and national parks, and there aren’t a lot of those opportunities in Texas.
“We really wanted to live near the water, and the idea of living by Lake Superior was super cool to our kids. Also, we wanted to live where there was snow!”
“The Twin Ports is such a neat place,” she added. “There is endless exploration, and it’s not too hot.”
From Houston to the North Shore
Woodley is the eldest of four children, with three younger brothers. Her father, Jesse Patterson, worked in the pipeline industry, and her mother, Joan Patterson, was a stay-at-home mom.
As a child, Woodley recalls family adventures, summer camps, and plenty of music. She is an accomplished pianist and plays several other instruments as well.
“My original plan was to become a band director,” she said. “So, when I enrolled at Sam Houston State University, I pursued a bachelor’s degree in music education.
“As part of that program, I had to learn to play a variety of instruments, including woodwinds, brass, percussion, and orchestral instruments. But I focused on the piano and clarinet.”
While student teaching, she had a revelation. “I was teaching music, which included teaching students who had IEPs (individualized education programs) in special education. I loved both.
“I realized I could do both, and that changed the trajectory of my career. I wanted to teach special education students, and I wanted to teach teachers to do the same.”
She earned a Master’s degree in multicultural special education from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2023, she earned her Ed.D., a doctorate in education with a focus on curriculum and instruction, from Texas A&M University.
A Calling to Teach
Woodley’s first job, while in high school, was a fun and breezy retail position at her local mall. In college, she was a resident assistant in the dorms. She also worked as a barista at Starbucks, a role she calls “her favorite job ever.”
After college, she worked as a band director for two years. Then, her career took her into the classroom as a special education teacher, until she began at UWS in 2023.
Over the years, the Woodley family relocated several times in pursuit of job opportunities. But it was always for Jeremy’s pastoral role.
“Usually, as a clergy family, we’d move wherever my husband was needed every few years,” she explained. “This {moving to Superior} was the first time my family and I had ever moved for my job.”
Settling in Superior
As noted, the Woodleys moved to Superior in 2023. Their four children, Hayes (17), Rhys (15), Harmonie (12), and Eliza (10), along with their cat, Jelly Bean, and dog, Hazel, were all down for the adventure.
“Everyone was pretty excited,” Woodley said. “Our family loves the season changes. The kids are very inquisitive and love to look outside and notice what the trees, flowers, and Lake Superior are doing each day.
“And we all love to explore. It’s been so fun to go up the North Shore and to Pattison Park to see the waterfalls.
“The kids love our local libraries, too. They are voracious readers and have been enjoying reading about the local geology and the night sky.
“I’d say we love everything about living here except having to go outside and shovel snow,” she noted with a laugh.
Life Beyond the Classroom
In her spare time, Woodley enjoys reading, running, and thrifting. A coffee lover since her Starbucks days, she enjoys visiting local coffee shops and has fallen in love with Wussow’s and the Dovetail Café. She is also a runner and plans to complete the Twin Cities half marathon in the fall.
She is already finding a deep sense of community here in her adopted hometown. She enjoys volunteering for the Superior School District and just completed her first year as a Wisconsin teaching fellow on behalf of UWS.
Making the Twin Ports Home
The Woodley family is so glad they relocated to Superior, and they plan to make the Twin Ports their permanent home. “There is something so special about the Lake and the seasons that we’ve never experienced before,” Woodley said.
“It’s been really fun to watch the leaves change. We all just love the ability to appreciate the natural beauty of the area.
“It’s been an incredible experience,” she added. “I tell all my family and friends in Texas that they should sell their houses and join us here.”
