Tomorrow, June 30, 2013, the community is celebrating the
career of one of the influential superintendents in Illinois. Dr. Preston L. Williams, Jr. is retiring
after 35 years as a teacher, coach, administrator, and superintendent. In each of these roles he positively influenced
the lives of students, teachers, family members and members of the larger
community. However, the role that I
admire him most for is being a mentor.
He has mentored me since he hired me as a middle school social studies
teacher 24 years ago. I am not the only
educational leader who has benefited from his wisdom, advice, and
leadership. Dozens of my colleagues have
become outstanding principals, district administrators, and teacher-leaders thanks
to Dr. Williams’ encouragement. The
lessons he has taught all of us are invaluable.
Perhaps the most important lesson Dr. Williams has instilled
is the importance of putting students first.
Dr. Williams stayed connected to students through the Champaign-Urbana 1
to 1 Mentoring Program (http://cu1to1.org/). He mentored
several students from elementary school through graduate school and
beyond. His commitment to his student
mentees motivated many other members of the community to become mentors. Mentoring changes lives, and I am lucky to
have had a mentor who is so committed to the idea of mentoring. Dr. Williams is retiring, but he will always
be a mentor and role model for this community.
For that I am forever grateful.
