The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees enthusiastically and unanimously named Dr. Eric Williams as the sole finalist for the CCISD Superintendent position. The live announcement made on November 9, 2020 capped a nationwide search for a leader who embodies the characteristics that the Board of 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,” said Dr. Laura DuPont, CCISD Board President. “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 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, Virginia. 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, 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. 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.”
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.
Academic, operational and fiscal accolades aside, the CCISD Board of Trustees were impressed with his spirit of collaboration, enthusiasm for the work ahead, and a deep and visible commitment to children, relationships and community. Dr. DuPont says the transition to Texas will be seamless.
“Dr. Williams is passionate about guiding teams on a quest for excellence. He establishes a culture of high expectations in everyone around him, while also encouraging collaboration to solve hard problems. He is a listener who wants to be connected to everyone. He stands up and takes responsibility for addressing difficult issues, using a systematic approach that is grounded in listening, thinking, transparency and stakeholder engagement.” said DuPont.
In 2019, Williams initiated an equity audit in Loudoun County Public Schools which revealed program enrollment inequities among student groups, a long history of policies and practices that inadvertently led to opportunity gaps, and a community in need of healing. Instead of filing the report on a shelf, Dr. Williams’ strategic approach to problem-solving has led to positive change and a culturally responsive community.
“By working to eliminate opportunity gaps and by providing safe, empathetic, respectful learning environments, we promote equitable outcomes for every student,” said Williams.
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 is married with two grown children.
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.
