Even though Ed Williams just began teaching at Westminster this year, he has already proposed a new Global Program to Puerto Rico. Currently, Williams teaches four sections of sixth-grade World Cultures. He has been teaching for 33 years and has previously taught at The Heritage School, Pace Academy, Marist, and Woodward.
Williams appreciates how Westminster has a wide variety of activities for students to explore different interests, “[Westminster] gives kids opportunities to be excellent in whatever they choose to do. If you want to be a musician, you can do that at Westminster. If you want to be a good athlete, Westminster will support you to be a good athlete. [Same with] robotics, and debate.”
Williams has coached football and tennis and enjoys coaching, regardless of the sport. “I like coaching in general. I would coach [anything],” he says. Williams believes that each sport is rewarding and challenging in different ways, but he especially appreciates coaching football. He said, “I think both sports have equal challenges. I love coaching football, I enjoyed that a lot.”
In addition to coaching, he also enjoys reading. Williams has four children, one son, and three daughters. One of his daughters is a Japanese major at a college in Japan.
William’s wife is from Puerto Rico, so he proposed creating a Global Program where students can travel abroad with the school to an interesting country. He connected the country with United States history and how it would benefit students. “It’s an opportunity to explore Puerto Rico,” he says. “You learn a lot about how Puerto Rican history is connected to broader U.S. History. I think Puerto Rico is an interesting place for kids to learn a little bit about American history, but also exploring Latin culture in Puerto Rico.” Puerto Rico also has a diverse range of terrain. “Peurto Rico is a gorgeous place. You can go to the ocean and mountains within two hours of each other.” This idea is still a proposal and the ultimate decision is up to Senior Hoyos.
Williams enjoys being a teacher because of the clarity he gives to students and the energy they give him. He said, “[I love] the aha moments,” he says. “Teaching children keeps me young. Sixth graders come with a lot, and that keeps my energy level, I learn something new every day from sixth graders.”