Meet Valarie Williams
Meet Valarie Williams
Working with my colleagues on the New Rochelle Board of Education, teachers and school staff, students, parents and guardians for the past five years has been a rewarding experience. I am running for re-election to bring continuity, stability, and progress to the City School District of New Rochelle, as we continue to improve our schools and district as befitting the Queen City of the Sound. I will serve as a resource for first-term board colleagues and a trusted collaborator with current members.
For over 30 years, I have served as an educator from Pre-K to high schools. Presently, I am the coordinator of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program and am part of the K-12 IB Team at the Greenburgh Central School District. I am wholly dedicated to public education, our students, families, teachers, school staff, and communities.
I also have a New York State certificate in School District Administration and am enrolled in an educational leadership doctoral program at Manhattanville College. In addition to my IB experience, I have served as a reading teacher in grades K-12, an elementary school for grades K-6, a Reading Recovery Teacher. As part of my professional development, I received a Transformational Leadership Certificate from Georgetown University.
I made a difference in our district in many ways:
Taken part in four years of Board Buddy Service at every school in the district (2019-present)
Assistant to the Clerk Hiring Committee Member (05/22)
Policy Committee Co-Chairperson (2022-Present)
Policy Committee Member (2021-2022)
Superintendent Search Committee Member (2021 and 2023)
Audit Committee Member (2019-Present)
MBK Liaison (2019-2020, 2020-2021)
Received New York State School Boards Association certificate
In the past five years of service on the New Rochelle Board of Education, I am proud of our collective achievements:
Delivered COVID relief for families and student
Delivered equitable digital access for all students
Our graduation rate increased from 80% to 87%
Created budgets that have been successful approved by voters
Completion of the $106 million dollar bond project
Secured voter approval of a new bond that would expand the Columbus School property, add security vestibules to each school, improved mechanical ventilation at Isaac Young Middle School, and remodeled the Whitney Young Auditorium at New Rochelle High School
Delivered funds for the new turf at Mckenna Field and the new library and gym floors at New Rochelle High School.
Approved the five-year Strategic Roadmap
Expanded after-school and summer programming
Promoted social emotional learning (SEL) initiatives
Used restorative circles to heal the community
Created the Green Schools Initiative to improve health, safety, and a better environment for students, teachers, and school staff
Passed a student board liaison policy to increase student engagement
Received training in school board governance from the New York State School Board Association (NYSBA) and Educational Leadership guru Michael Fullan
Received certificates of completion for Restorative Justice courses through NYSED, NYS Court System, and Community Dispute Resolution Centers