WORKING -- LIZ WILLIAMS

-- Story by Torus Tammer, photo by XXX

SHE IS

A professional educator

HER DISCOVERY

Williams, 50, has been the principal at Marine View Middle School in

Huntington Beach for five years. She discovered a love and desire to

teach children while in college.

“During college, I worked as a college aide for three years,” Williams

said. “I worked with seventh- and eighth-grade students, and it was then

that I decided that I wanted to do it [teaching] as a career. I think I

just thoroughly enjoyed the kids because they were so honest, open and

responsive to adults.”

TACKLING A CAREER

As soon as she was ready to join the work force, Williams landed a job

as a sixth-grade teacher in the Ocean View School District and has stayed

there ever since. Besides her tenure as principal at Marine View,

Williams was also an assistant principal there for four years. She also

was a teacher at Mesa View Middle School for about six years. All in all,

the tally of years of being an educator is impressive -- 26.

Over that period of time, Williams said she has learned a lot.

“Throughout my career, I’ve always been at the sixth-, seventh- and

eighth-grade levels,” Williams said. “Actually, I’m really lucky because

I’m with great kids and a great staff. These kids have trust in us as

adults. They share and want to do the right thing, and I believe with all

my heart that kids truly want to do the right thing, but just may not

have had the parenting or the training to do so.”

UNITED EFFORT

Her weeks can be hectic, but never enough to slow her down. With

awards ceremonies, school board meetings and Parent-Teacher Assn.

meetings, Williams always has her fair share of commitments. But Williams

is the first to admit that her energetic staff as well as parents help

the school to accomplish its many goals.

“The parents are extremely involved here in what we do on campus,”

Williams said. “This year, the PTA raised and donated $35,000 [to our

school], which will go to books in the library, wood shop equipment, the

music program, physical education program, etc. We really try to spread

it out.”

BEING POSITIVE

Williams says that it is important for people to understand that

middle school kids need just as much care and attention as younger kids.

She says that the results of such nurturing are sometimes sweet,

sometimes sour.

“The most difficult thing I have to deal with is child abuse,”

Williams said. “The children will confide in me and by far, that is what

impacts my psyche the most.”

But Williams believes that the good outweighs the bad and believes

that she really has an impact on the children’s lives.

“The decisions and the choices I make on a daily basis really effect

them one way or another,” Williams said. “It may be an academic choice, a

disciplinary one or deciding how to spend some money, but it’s those

kinds of decision that effect everyone. I know that they [the kids] feel

safe and good about being here.”