Throughout Ms. Mary Williams’ six years of teaching Algebra II and Dual Enrollment pre-calculus at Midlo, she has inspired countless students and faculty members through her positive attitude and consistent dedication to her job. On May 4, 2021, Midlo celebrated William’s legacy by awarding her Teacher of the Year for the 2020-21 school year. 

Each day, Williams makes her classroom a place where every student is able to thrive and succeed. She constantly goes above and beyond for her students by offering them assistance before and after class to go over the material. With her growth mindset, tech-savvy knowledge and desire to teach the world, Williams shares her teaching style online via social media. By attending workshops, she has learned how to create innovative and engaging lessons for her students. “She is the definition of a lifelong learner,” Principal Shawn Abel said. Williams’ devotion to helping students succeed in her class led her to become one of Virginia’s instructional leaders in Desmos utilization. 

Williams has been a tremendous help to students throughout the process of virtual and hybrid learning. She inspires students to continue to work hard during this unusual time and has continued to offer her full support whenever a student needs help. Time and time again, Williams proves to be devoted and committed to ensuring that her students are truly understanding the material that they are learning. “She encourages students to ask questions about the content every day and is always willing to meet during Midlo Morning to reiterate a concept,“ junior Caroline Longest said.

Five years ago, Williams saw the need for students to be given the option of taking Dual Enrollment math and completed the additional qualifications to teach DE Calculus without being asked by administrators. As the advocate for math students, Williams turned the nonexistent DE math offerings at Midlo into five sections of Dual Enrollment pre-calculus classes. 

As a role model for all teachers, Williams is the epitome of what all teachers should strive to be like. By being a talented and incredibly dedicated teacher, Williams has instilled in many students a lasting love of math. 

Congratulations, Ms. Williams! 

“Ms. Williams has certainly contributed to our positive reputation as a leader among a talented and caring group of teachers at Midlothian High School. I can not imagine a stronger candidate for the CCPS High School Teacher of the Year award. Ms. Williams has dedicated countless hours, not only serving the students at Midlothian High School but also supporting students across the State through her professional development sessions. She’s truly an inspiration for everyone.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         – Principal Shawn Abel

“Mrs. Williams has consistently been nothing but patient through this new environment of virtual and hybrid learning! Something special about her that has truly shown throughout these past couple of months is the amount of effort she puts in to get to know her students, even the ones who have remained virtual. The commitment and patience Mrs. Williams has shown this school year was a great reminder to push onward to try my hardest!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   – Caroline Longest, Class of 2022

“In class, she is great at being able to gauge how people are feeling about the content and always makes sure that everyone understands. Personally, she has made me finally enjoy a math class despite it always having been my least favorite subject in school, since I had her two years in a row. Also, you can tell she really cares about her students as she still has pictures of kids from an activity  five years prior in her room and still knows their names!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  – Abigail Shepherd, Class of 2021

“As someone who has been lucky enough to have had Mrs. Williams for two years in a row, I am extremely happy that she won Teacher of the Year but was not surprised! Mrs. Williams is everything that you want in a math teacher: a person who can break down hard concepts, someone who is not stumped by any question and someone who expects, and therefore gets, excellence from her students. For those who stayed online with her this year, she was able to make them want to show up and be proud of our efforts. This year, with the constant COVID-19 changes, she did not miss a step and is always upbeat, believing in her systems even when they are sluggish tuning virtually. The mood is always fantastic in her class and I know that I could walk into any comparable class in the same subject and be well prepared. Her display of passion for math during a pandemic is completely contagious!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                – Brennan Lane, Class of 2023

“I have had an amazing experience in Mrs. Williams’ class! She is always there for her students and I can really tell that she cares about each one of us. Her teaching style in virtual learning has been amazing as she is able to help walk me through the problems. Mrs. WIlliams is not only a hardworking and dedicated teacher, she has the kindest soul! This past year has been quite challenging for me because I had a major passing of a loved one in my family. Mrs. Williams took the time to do the kindest gesture for me and the word cannot express how appreciative I am for her as she has supported me since day one. I know I can always go to see her if I need someone to talk to and listen. She has been such a positive light in my life, and I will forever be impacted by her care and thoughtfulness for me and my family. Mrs. Williams is so deserving for the Teacher of the Year award!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              – Gabriella Garcia, Class of 2022

“Mrs. Williams is always willing to answer all of your questions and never makes you feel embarrassed about them. She is very personable and understanding. Her virtual learning style was really helpful since she would teach the lesson and then set aside time to answer everyone’s individual questions about assignments. You can tell she really cares about her students and wants them to learn and do their best at all times. She is one of the kindest people I know!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            – Hailey Peterson, Class of 2023

“Mrs. Williams has been extremely generous and understanding with all of her students this year! She has been willing to help whenever and give students extra help by providing videos and alternative methods in order for them to succeed during this challenging year. Mrs. Williams takes the time to go over problems so her students can get the hang of them better rather than moving on quickly to the next topic. She works with everyone to solve problems and is understanding of everyone’s situation. She works hard for each of her students while looking out for their safety and best interest!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           – Katherine Karalus, Class of 2022

“Pre-calc could be a very rigorous course, but Ms. Williams makes it so easy! She is always available to patiently answer questions and offers support during any time of the day. She always takes into account students’ schedules and is flexible with due dates when there is testing going on. She always takes the time out of her day to record instructional videos for students who missed class or need extra help. It’s very obvious how much she cares for her students and wants them to succeed in not only math but in life. I cannot imagine a better selection for teacher of the year!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              – Quinn Downing, Class of 2023

“Overall, Mrs. Williams has helped me and many others become more confident and comfortable with the challenging material we are learning in class. I feel that she has helped me exercise greater time commitment to my math studies and practice my skills at a rigorous college level. Mrs. Williams is always open to questions, making it feel very safe to ask questions, which is an essential factor to succeeding in any math class, especially in one as challenging as Pre-Calc! She always has her Google Meet open and will help her students get to where they need to be. I know she has provided invaluable support to all of her students even during these virtual times.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          – Aaron Liu, Class of 2023