Adrian H. Wood

Adrian H. Wood, a writer and educator, is best known for her blog "Tales of an Educated Debutante." Her professional background includes diverse roles such as a community college curriculum specialist, researcher for special needs-inclusive prekindergarten programs, preschool teacher, nanny, children's ski instructor, early interventionist, college professor, and early childhood researcher. Wood's return to writing in 2016, after a twenty-year hiatus, led to her focusing on personal experiences enriched with satire, truth, and irony.

Wood holds a Master's of Education in Early Intervention with a specialty in Inclusion from UNC-CH, and a PhD in Educational Research and Policy Analysis from NC State, for which she was granted a full scholarship by the Howard Hughes Foundation. These credentials affirm her extensive experience in educational research and policy analysis. Her tenure has further enhanced Wood's insights into education and policy as a research assistant and program evaluator at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute.

As a mother of four, including a child with special needs, Wood often discusses related challenges and victories in her writing, aiming to raise awareness and offer support. In 2025, she co-authored the book "Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum, From Diagnosis to Young Adulthood," alongside Kate Swenson and Carrie Cariello, which details their experiences as mothers of children with autism. This personal experience, combined with her professional background, adds a unique depth to her public speaking engagements. She has been a guest speaker at the Junior League of Raleigh's general membership meeting, where she discussed mental health, and also at a fundraiser for Fans of Friendship House at Cape Fear Regional Theatre in Fayetteville. These speaking engagements testify to Wood's ability to share her insights and experiences related to parenting, education, and life challenges.