Creating a Chance to Give Back
Dr. Williams, an administrator for the past 11 years at a building level, is now district superintendent at USD 225.
“I have never felt as welcomed in a community as I felt here. It was just a really warm welcoming,” said Williams. Williams chose this district because she likes that it is very small. She wants a chance to know everybody that she works with and be able to know the students that attend our schools.
Being in a smaller district creates a sense of community and makes her feel like everyone is responsible for everyone. “We all look out for each other, and with this size no one gets lost without someone else noticing,” said Williams.
Williams said, “There are many advantages to my job here at Fowler.” Williams likes the people with whom she works with because the teachers are eager learners. They want to be better, and that normally is the way teachers are. She knows the staff and their strengths and can capitalize on those.
One thing that Williams dislikes is having to make something out of nothing. “Our staff is so thin, and I’m afraid that we may interfere with some families’ lives,” said Williams. Something that she has learned in this aspect is there are times when a dollar has to be stretched into two, which can sometimes be hard to do knowing the needs of our schools.
She said, “The students here are lucky to have people that genuinely care and want to make a difference in each of the student’s lives.” This makes the job easier for Williams because she knows that the students are getting treated well in the classrooms and are learning what is being taught directly to them.
Williams’s typical tasks during the day include state and federal reports, but she tries to save these particular tasks for after hours. Throughout the day Williams goes into different classrooms to see what the students and the teachers need. Williams said, “Dealing with all the different personalities is sometimes the most difficult aspect of my job; however, this is sometimes the most fun.”
Williams was born in Parsons, which is in southeast Kansas. She is from a family of eight. She has four brothers and three sisters. She has three children: two boys, Shiloh who is 26, and Nick who is 20, and one girl Kayleigh who is 23. She said, “…being from a large family, there is never a dull moment.” During her free time Williams enjoys gardening, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Williams attended elementary school in Pleasanton and jr. high/high school in Fort Scott both in Southeastern Kansas. She then continued to Pittsburg State University earning her bachelor and master degrees. She attended the University of Arkansas to earn her doctorate degree.
The most difficult challenge that Williams has had to overcome since moving to southwest Kansas is not being with her husband and children because they are on the other side of the state. “…however, climate wise it is no different other than there is no water here,” said Williams and laughed.