Music that Describes Andrea
Andrea Williams was nominated by her colleague, Francesca Fowler.
Ms. Williams is a product of Austin Independent School District. She attended elementary, middle,and high school in this district, and served for many years as a teacher at Pecan Springs Elementary School. She was first assigned to kindergarten, but was moved to fifth grade before the year was up, where she truly found her niche.
Ms. Williams has always demonstrated professionalism, calmness, and fortitude. She had a special way of creating a classroom community before social-emotional learning was popular. She respected her students, and they gained respect for her. Ms. Williams took on many extra duties as a teacher and secured her administrative certification while teaching. She served as assistant principal at several schools in Austin ISD before her current role. She started the year off with a new assistant principal, Ms. Dimas, and together they have changed the climate of the school and brought together the faculty. They are working very hard to make these same changes with the students' families and surrounding community.
"We are a Title I school, with disadvantaged children from poverty situations, immigrants from across the world, and new families that are moving into our gentrified neighborhood," said Fowler. "Quite often, you will see Ms. Williams engaged in calm, nurturing conversations with some of our more challenging students, trying to establish a positive rapport in order to get the child back into the classroom. Ms. Williams has had to chase children, diffuse volatile situations with both parents and students, and maintains the picture of professionalism throughout it all. She never raises her voice, and she never shows frustration. She simply remains calm, reassuring, and kind."
Ms. Williams has even gone so far as to walk a particular group of children part of the way home on a daily basis, due to a re-occuring conflict between 2 sets of students who walk home in the same direction. She gives up much of her own time to help the students, the families, and the staff at Pecan Springs. She always shows the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. Ms. Williams even extends her compassion to her colleagues outside of the school day. She makes it a point to attend any funerals of staff or staff relatives when the destination is a reasonable distance from her school. Taking this extra mile to help families when they are grieving is proof that she truly lives what she shows at work: kindness and positivity to everyone at all times.
I'm the Executive Director for the Rotary Club of Austin, and Pecan Springs Elementary School is one of our "sponsored" schools (as well as one of our favorites). This means Club members regularly visit the campus for various volunteer activities, so I can say, with full confidence and some authority, that Andrea clearly has a passion for making a positive difference in the lives of the students, their families and the staff at Pecan Springs!
The impacts she's made as both a school administrator and leader are especially notable when you consider that, not only is Pecan Springs a Title 1 school, but it was recently removed from the "closure list" developed by the Austin Independent School District (AISD)...I have no doubt that Andrea's leadership and dedication directly influenced the AISD School Trustee Board's decision!
I can't think of anyone else on your nominee list for this year's LifeChanger of the Year award more deserving than Andrea Williams -- Principal Extraordinaire!
Andrea is a great leader at Pecan Springs! I have volunteered a number of times at Pecan Springs and can tell that she is having an incredibly positive impact at the school.
Andrea is such a great role model and leader at Pecan Springs, and has made a huge difference in the short time she has been Principal there. She is dedicated to her students and is garnering enthusiastic support from the parents and community. She totally deserving of this award.
Andrea Williams is definitely an asset to Pecan Springs Elementary. She cares about the children and gets involve in their community.. She has improved the teachers morale and has created open communication between staff and teachers. Ms. Williams has added several innovative programs and is supportive of outside sponsors who volunteer at the school, she always receive them with kindness..
Our Rotary Club works with Pecan Springs and we love the environment that Ms. Williams provides for the students and teachers of Pecan Springs Elementary.
Pecan Springs has new life! Mrs Williams loves what she does and educating is her passions. She is one that sees the glass half full rather than half empty, she shows support for her teachers and the students. What a blessing she is!!
Pecan Springs is a real challenge with five non English languages spoken by its students and many students who do not speak English at all! But the collegial and positive attitude, stimulated by Ms. Williams, is manifested throughout the campus. Both students and faculty are motivated by Ms Williams leadership, professional skills and compassion. Her knowledgeable and exemplary leadership has resulted in improvement in all areas of the school’s mission, especially In math and reading skills. Her tireless energy and passion are remarkable. She is a rare and precious asset, a life changing leader in a career that is critically important to the overall well-being of our country, elementary education.
Thank you,
Ken Koock
I've been working with Pecan Springs through our local Rotary Clubs and Andrea is always available, very present and supports the values and ethics of Rotary. She is helping us make a difference in kids lives that will hopefully help formulate their later years. A very unique individual.
I have the opportunity to volunteer as a Rotarian several times at Pecan Springs Elementary over the last few years. The students are great. Happy, interested in learning and well behaved. I believe Andera's leadership is one of the main reason this school is doing so well in developing our students. She is the leader that makes it happen.
Partnering with the community to help kids thrive in a difficult socio-economic situation is notable --go Ms. Williams!
Wow you doing great things Mrs. Williams. So proud to say I use to work with you
I hear great things from one of the Pecan Springs teachers about the huge difference she is making there for the kids and staff. Recently, the ISD had placed this school on a potential closure list, which would be devastating to the students and their families and their neighborhoods of interest. With the help of Principal Williams’ leadership, the ISD has now removed Pecan Springs from the closure list. That is HUGE! Please give Principal Williams your most favorable consideration for this award!
Great educator who changes the lives of the children entrusted to her. Andrea functions in a very difficult and challenging inter-city school.
As a consistent Rotary Club of Austin volunteer at Pecan Springs Elementary, I know first hand, what a big difference Andrea Williams has made with her students and her support of the faculty! She encourages community involvement to support the school's activities and does a stellar job of connecting this Title I school with community leaders who join her in making an impact on the students!
For these reasons and her dedication, I cast my vote in her favor of this Life Changer award.
As a community volunteer, I have the pleasure of working with Andrea Williams and experiencing her enthusiastic, positive vision for the students, faculty and staff at Pecan Springs Elementary. I am involved in bringing literacy projects that enhance student learning and Andrea welcomes and supports our volunteers while on her campus. She demonstrates professionalism, a true passion for her work and a caring connection with the students and faculty through her actions.
Very impressed with her leadership and caring of the students at this school! She leads an awesome staff and it shows.
What a powerful role model and advocate for quality education and excellence for all. So grateful to have her working in our district.
1 John 3:20, God is greater than our hearts and knoweth all things. One thing for certain, God is using you to do his work, touch lives and spread his love. Thank You for your compassion, resilience and selflessness, It stretches beyond all boundaries. I’m so glad the world will get a glimpse of your kindred soul of a saint. Thank you for enriching not only our lives but those you encounter in your profession. Continue to do Gods work. Love and blessings...
Andrea is sweet, kind loving and caring she will go above and beyond to help anyone especially her students.
I love you and I'm so proud of you ??
Andrea, I’m so proud of you. Thank you for all that you do for your students and parents.
Andrea shows her staff she cares and encourages them to be the best they can be.
I am so proud of you, my friend. The words that described your character and actions, were exactly correct. You are all the things Ms Fowler has mentioned and more. We both know who gets all the glory. Smile and keep being who you are.
I had the pleasure of working with Ms. Williams for one year at Pillow Elementary. She was always very professional and thoughtful. She was willing to go the extra mile for teachers and students alike. Ms.Williams was always well prepared for professional development presentations, conferences, and data digs. She was a great addition to our Pillow family.
It is nice to see Ms. Williams come back home. She started at Pecan Springs and she has made it back to the school as a great leader. She has learned a lot from all the leaders around her. She is always working hard to learn everything she can to be the best she can be. She believes that every child can learn and pushing them to challenge themselves. Teachers and students want to do their best and look to her for guidance and leadership. She helps the campus feel they are a team and family. We all work together to bring everyone up. The staff and students feel they are important and special. She has made teaching fun again and teachers are excited to come to school. She has even cooked for the staff to help the staff feel she cares and she is there for them. Everything she asks of her staff, she has done herself and knows what support the staff needs in getting it done. She also puts in the hours and is productive at school. She makes sure everyone is heard and validated from the students, parents, staff, custodians, and everyone who walks into the school. I am glad she is our leader.
Ms. Williams was our assistant principal last year, my first year as a teacher. We had some difficult behaviors and Ms. Williams stepped in and provided crucial support for the teachers and students. She is a leader and our students adored her. We are so proud to have had her on our team!
