Q&A with Melissa Williams

What brought you to FWCD 21 years ago?

I came to FWCD in the 2004-05 school year after spending 20 years teaching in the Birdville ISD. I loved my time there, but I was ready for an environment with more academic freedom. A former colleague from Haltom High School who was working at Country Day encouraged me to apply, and when Evan Peterson H’15 gave me the opportunity to teach Upper School math here, I never looked back. I have stayed for many reasons. The campus is beautiful, and the Plant Ops team works tirelessly to maintain it. My colleagues are top-notch educators and incredible human beings. Teachers, administrators and staff work together to help students reach their full potential. And, of course, the students themselves make this job so rewarding. Watching them grow, learn and succeed is the ultimate joy of teaching.

How has teaching math changed over the years?

The core principles of mathematics have remained the same, but how we teach them has evolved dramatically. When I started teaching in 1984, lessons were taught on a chalkboard; using colored chalk was considered fancy. Incorporating fun in the classroom is important, too. When I was 15, our family took a trip to Louisiana, and someone gave my dad tickets to a movie premiere. We had no idea what was in store, but the premiere was for the first Star Wars movie: red carpets and strange creatures everywhere welcoming us to the screening. I’ve been a Star Wars fan ever since and deck out my classroom!

Now, technology has revolutionized math instruction. Concepts that once took days to explain now can be demonstrated in minutes with dynamic visual tools, helping students grasp them more effectively. What has remained constant is the need for students to develop problem-solving skills and mathematical reasoning. While technology aids understanding, critical thinking is still essential. I hope every student who leaves my class appreciates how math works, even if they don’t love the subject itself. One student who had never particularly enjoyed math once told me that after two years in my class, she had come to appreciate its intricacies and connections. That’s one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received!

What are your plans for retirement?

I plan to travel and put my passport to good use! I want to see fall foliage in peak season, something I could never do while teaching.

I’ll also be spending more time with family. My nephew signed his letter of intent to play football for the Air Force Academy, and I plan to attend as many games as possible. I’d love to volunteer at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, something I’ve enjoyed with my advisory over the years. And, of course, if anyone invites me to go fishing, I want to be able to say yes every single time! After working full-time since I was 18, I’m looking forward to a slower, more flexible pace of life.