Spotlight
Brandie Williams, Superintendent of Trumann School District, says “Trumann is my hometown and I absolutely love leading #TeamTrumann each and every day. There is no greater reward than leading the district that helped to shape you.”
Superintendent Brandie Williams describes herself as a “true nerd” when it came to school growing up. She says, “I loved learning, meeting new people, making friends, participating in extracurricular activities, being a part of something bigger, and contributing to the school community – spreading school spirit. That felt ‘natural’ to me.” So, when it was time to start planning her future, there was no doubt about what she would do. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher.” Brandie attended Arkansas State University and graduated with a bachelors degree in 2000. She began by teaching 4th grade in the Nettleton School District, but went on to work in various parts of the state throughout her career. She taught 3rd and 4th grade at Clarendon School District, 5th grade at Wynne School District, and at the England School District she held roles as a 6th grade teacher, instructional facilitator/federal programs coordinator, and elementary principal. “Each one of these districts holds a special place in my heart,” she says. “I developed friendships that have lasted a lifetime, I worked with passionate educators, and I gained an incredible amount of respect for those serving across the state.” As she moved through her career, she still hoped to one day lead in her home district – Trumann – where she could be near family. Four years ago, that hope was fulfilled when she was hired as Assistant Superintendent of the Trumann School District. She became the district’s Superintendent last year. She says “I call it the ‘boomerang effect,’ when you land back where you started. My love for education started as a child in the Trumann School District, and I see it as a true blessing to be leading there now.” Brandie believes that some people are just born to be educators, and describes the work as “not easy. It is not for the faint of heart. It is a commitment, well beyond 3:30pm in the afternoon. If someone is considering education and they feel like nothing else in life will make them happy, I think those are the ones that were born to serve as public educators.” For her part, Brandie can’t imagine doing anything outside of education, and says she would be either teaching in a classroom or leading as principal if she were not in her current role. “Education is my talent and my hobby. It’s where I feel I can contribute to the greater good, working to give students the best chance at becoming their best selves.” Her favorite part about her job is making connections with others and working with them to make the school experience better for kids. The most challenging part of her job is having enough time, saying “The demands, needs, deadlines, commitments, and goals are continually fighting for time. The day in the life of any educator is busy – filled with more than the clock allows. Each step from teacher to superintendent grows in responsibilities and time needed to meet the needs of those you are serving.” The most significant change she has noticed over the course of her career is the focus on public educators and public schools to take on a growing number of responsibilities each year, stating “Public educators are trained to teach, with a focus on content, teaching strategies, developmental levels of learners, classroom management, etc., but more and more they are being called on to navigate safety/security of schools, mental health, specialized 5
