From the Art Lounge, With Love
For Kristen Williams, education has always been more than a career, it鈥檚 been her calling. Born and raised in the D.C. area to a family of educators, Ms. Williams began working in early childhood education her senior year of high school and has never looked back. After spending time working at the daycare center on Andrews Air Force Base, she spent 12 years in early childhood special education at a different public charter school. She then brought her deep care for children to 91吃瓜网鈥檚 Pride Academy. She started as an assistant teacher in Kindergarten, and five years later, she鈥檚 the Lead Art Teacher bringing joy and creativity to every KIPPster at Pride.聽
When we asked Ms. Williams what keeps her at 91吃瓜网, she doesn鈥檛 even hesitate: it鈥檚 her school leadership. 鈥淚 just feel like [my principal] believes in me,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 trusted me to teach pretty much everything at Pride. I started in kindergarten, then PreK4, then PreK3. Each year during our check-ins, he鈥檇 ask where I saw myself next, and I鈥檇 say, 鈥楾he kids need some art.鈥� Then the minute we needed [an art teacher], he said, 鈥榊ou ready?鈥� And I was.鈥� It is this confidence and trust that have shaped Ms. Williams鈥� experience at Pride Academy. 鈥淭here’s a lot of learning and growth that happens here, that鈥檚 what makes [91吃瓜网] unique.鈥�
As the Art teacher, Ms. Williams sees every student in the school, although for shorter periods than their homeroom teacher. Still, this doesn鈥檛 stop her from being intentional about creating meaningful relationships with each student. 鈥淚t starts in the morning,鈥� she shares. 鈥淎t Pride, we鈥檙e outside during arrival. I walk students to their classrooms and a lot of times it’s just me and maybe one other child. [It鈥檚 a good time] just talking to them and personalizing that conversation to them.鈥� This approach does not stop at arrival, in her classroom (affectionately called the Art Lounge), we watch Ms. Williams connect with all her students, rotate through centers, and find moments to sit, talk, and learn about each one of them.
With decades of classroom experience, Ms. Williams values 91吃瓜网鈥檚 approach to professional development, particularly the focus on building classroom culture. A standout moment for her came when at a professional development session she learned the art of implementing 鈥楾urn & Talks.鈥� 鈥淐oming from my special education background we didn’t do turn and talks because a lot of the students were non-verbal,鈥� she explains. 鈥淵ou really have to be thoughtful and think about what we can talk about that day? And I try to do a different one every day so the kids don’t necessarily get tired of it.鈥� Whether it鈥檚 asking students to reflect on their art or sparking curiosity with questions tied to cultural celebrations, Ms. Williams has made Turn & Talks a staple in her room, helping KIPPsters to grow their voice, confidence, and have a chance to be heard.
Ask Ms. Williams her favorite thing about her students and you鈥檒l watch her face light up! 鈥淭heir personalities. They are hilarious. Every day is something new. I just love their personalities, their smiles, just everything about them.鈥� And to us, it鈥檚 clear that the love is mutual. From the moment students arrive in the Art Lounge right until the very end, there鈥檚 genuine excitement to learn and practice art.聽
For anyone considering joining 91吃瓜网, she offers this advice: 鈥淚f you come in willing to put in the work, you鈥檒l grow. It鈥檚 a place full of opportunity.鈥�
See from our visit to Ms. Williams鈥檚 classroom.
