LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Tiara Williams was nominated by her colleague and instructional coach, Jenae McKnight.

Mrs. Tiara Williams has superseded her school's expectation of a long-term substitute. Last year, Mrs. Williams arrived at Lake Ridge New Tech Middle School with a heart for children and no teaching experience. She was mentored throughout the year by the Lead Math Teacher, and she hit it out the ballpark with teaching. Each day she worked on self-improvement to build lasting relationships with the students. Her classroom was orderly yet engaging. 

As a small business owner of her own Party Planning Business, she always exceeds the expectation for decorating and bringing beauty to spaces. Her classroom was inviting, and students loved being in her class, even those who gave her a hard time. She chose creative activities that were student appropriate and high on student interest lists. Mrs. Williams always challenged her students to be their best selves and reach for the next level. For example, one student did not like Mrs. Williams at the beginning of the year. Mrs. Williams continued to be her naturally friendly self but firmly enforced her expectations with the student. By the end of the year, the student gained respect for Mrs. Williams and developed a working teacher-student relationship. The student even began to see improvement in her grades in Math.

"She took the lead in orchestrating the Black History Program in my absence due to illness," said McKnight. "The program was one of our best yet. She also spearheaded the Student Council and activated the students to plan end-of-the-year activities for eighth-graders along with Sock Hops to raise funds. She planned a Hawaiian-themed breakfast, the eighth-grade Sneaker Ball, and the eighth-grade Awards Ceremony."

"The initiative she took as a first-year teacher was phenomenal," said McKnight. "Mrs. Williams is one example that you do not have to have a teaching degree to be an effective teacher. She proved that the most important thing to have is a heart for children, and the rest will come. I salute and honor Mrs. Williams as a LifeChanger in her ability to change students' lives through love."