Executive Director, Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals; Associate Executive Director, Cooperative Council Oklahoma School Administrators
Nominees: Keith Ballard, Jana Burk, and Talia Shaull
Leadership has been defined in many different ways – passion, integrity, vision, and service are just a few. Dr. Vickie Williams’ career as an Oklahoma educator embodies these qualities. Dr. Williams received her Bachelor of Science Degree, Elementary Education in 1975 from Oklahoma City University, her Master of Science, Secondary Education in 1978 from University of Central Oklahoma and her Doctorate of Higher Education/School Administration in 2003 from Oklahoma State University.
Dr. Williams served as a classroom teacher in Edmond Public Schools for 21 years, where she received the Distinguished Service Award for Edmond Public Schools in 1999. Taking the lessons she learned in the classroom, Williams became an administrator in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Here she had the opportunity to serve not only as principal, but also as Director of Federal Programs and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction. While serving Guthrie Public Schools, Dr. Williams co-authored many grants, providing her district with over $8 million dollars. She received the BRICK Award for Outstanding Guthrie Administrator in 2003.
Williams then served as Superintendent of Woodward Public Schools. Williams led the building of the first LEED certified “green” early childhood school in the State of Oklahoma. While in Woodward, Dr. Williams led the first school team from Oklahoma to the Apple headquarters in California to develop a school-wide technology plan.
Today, Dr. Williams serves administrators across the state of Oklahoma as the Associate Director of the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administrators. As Director for the Association of Oklahoma Secondary School Administrators she has served on the Professional Development Committee for directors across the nation. Through her efforts, administrators in approximately 500 districts across Oklahoma have been trained in the new Teacher Leader Effectiveness model. In addition to her work at the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administrators, Dr. Williams serves on several boards and participates as a member and leader of numerous professional organizations, not only in her home state of Oklahoma, but nationwide.