Dr. Eric Williams
The Clear Creek ISD Board of Trustees enthusiastically and unanimously named Dr. Eric Williams as the sole finalist for the position of CCISD superintendent on Nov. 9, capping a nationwide search for a leader who embodies the characteristics trustees identified as critical, with the help of a deep process of community and stakeholder input.
“The board is thrilled to have found an exceptional, visionary leader with a track record of innovative instructional programs and a mature and sophisticated understanding of school systems,” CCISD Board President Dr. Laura DuPont said. “Dr. Williams demonstrates a genuine passion for supporting authentic learning and is recognized for his ability to develop, support and inspire the people around him.”
Dr. Williams, a native of Waco, Tx., is currently the superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools, a high performing school district of approximately 82,000 students, 13,000 employees, and a $1.3 billion budget in Leesburg, Va. Williams has more than 28 years in education, spanning from a social studies teacher in Virginia and an English teacher in Brazil to a high school principal in Florida and superintendent in Virginia.
In his tenure as a superintendent, trustees said Dr. Williams has earned a reputation of being an innovative instructional leader, an effective and engaging communicator, and a person with a servant heart and a student-centered mindset, the trustees said, adding that he has a keen awareness of developing the whole child and a deep belief in developing student agency and empowering all students to make meaningful contributions.
“When we nurture students’ capacity for courage, collaboration, innovation, and self-direction, we empower students to make meaningful contributions through careers, community service, and civic engagement,” said Williams. “This approach brings joy in teaching and learning.”
His selection, however, has set off a firestorm of criticism from CCISD parents after learning that Loudoun County community leaders feel Williams has not done enough to address issues there. A group of about 30 CCISD parents even staged a protest. In an attempt to respond to their fears, and answer their questions, Williams returned to Clear Lake to meet with parents Nov. 17 at Challenger Stadium, promising to “maintain and build on the excellence” of this school district.
Under his leadership, Loudoun County Public Schools opened three world-class academies in the areas of advanced technology and STEM, three computer science immersion schools in elementary education, and new facilities to support exponential enrollment growth. He believes public education is key to workforce development. Williams was one of the inaugural superintendents of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools.
Loudoun County Public Schools is recognized by the Virginia Department of Education as a District of Innovation and was named the 2018 Project-based Learning Champion District by PBLWorks. The state accreditation ratings, standardized test scores, and graduation rates also reflect the excellence of the district. Loudoun County Public Schools is praised for its effective management of rapid growth, growing by 9,000 students and 11 campuses during Dr. Williams’ six-and-a-half-year tenure. The school district also consistently earns recognition for transparent, efficient budgeting and financial operations.
Williams’ educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in education from The College of William and Mary, a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Boston University. He and his wife, Michelle, have two grown children, Lexi and Bryce.
In compliance with Texas law, the Clear Creek ISD Board of Trustees must wait a minimum of 21 days from making the sole finalist announcement to making the appointment official. An official start date has not been determined. To learn more about Dr. Williams and the national superintendent search, visit www.ccisd.net/superintendentsearch
