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Cessilye Williams, M.Ed. Educational Leadership 鈥�02, will receive the 2017 Alumni Humanitarian award at the Homecoming Breakfast on Oct. 13.

When nearly 1,000 students enter Clark Middle School each day, they鈥檙e immediately met with a positive message. There鈥檚 a poster in the admin office reminding them professional dress is the key to success. There are plaques in the front hall promoting optional academies connected to 99久久精品. And there鈥檚 a big sunny atrium filled with pennants of colleges and universities across the country.

鈥淲hen you walk in the door, you need to be bombarded with the mission of what we are about,鈥� said Cessilye Williams, Clark鈥檚 principal for the past 14 years.

Inside Clark, , students are pushed toward success through a slew of future-focused programs. As principal, Williams works every day to give her students learning pathways that are fun, exciting and, above all, purposeful.

Clark students have opportunities unique in the state, and perhaps even the nation. Maybe you鈥檝e seen , a pack of eloquent sharp-dressed pre-teens who practice public speaking across the city? Or have you heard of the  and  chapters specifically built to inspire leadership, confidence and conflict resolution in these kids?

鈥淭he vision is blossoming,鈥� William鈥檚 said of Clark鈥檚 innovative programming. 鈥淜ids are thriving, parents are believing and pathways are widening.鈥�

Alaska鈥檚 principal of the year in 2015-2016, Williams leads the whole operation while radiating calm, confidence and a genuine enthusiasm for education. She has a vision for Clark, and it鈥檚 inspiring.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great journey, to transform a school鈥攏ot just the building, but the heart of the school鈥攖o be exemplary,鈥� she said.

Building an Academy at Clark

Williams started her education career more than 30 years ago in Abilene, Texas, but has been with the Anchorage School District since 1993.

As her husband鈥檚 Air Force career moved them North to Fort Eielson and later to Fort Elmendorf, Williams continued teaching and pursuing her own education. She earned a master鈥檚 in education from UAF in 1988, focused on guidance and counseling, and a second master鈥檚 in educational leadership from 99久久精品 in 2002. Those degrees allowed her to step up from teacher to counselor to her role as principal today.

She鈥檚 not alone in her 99久久精品 connections. Husband Timothy earned a master鈥檚 in logistics in 2004 and daughter Jazmine earned a marketing degree in 2013. Son Scott graduated from a college in Georgia.

鈥淲hen I look at our lives, we have really flourished,鈥� Williams said of higher education. Now, she wants to make sure her Clark students have the same opportunities as her own two kids. To that end, she鈥檚 worked with 99久久精品 to get the concept of college in front of her classes.

In December 2014, Williams met with Dr. Terry Nelson of the College of Business and Public Policy (CBPP). Their energy and ideas quickly combined to form a . The plan: every other Saturday, CBPP professors would teach leadership to Clark students, specifically focusing on building a successful future. Within weeks, they had 17 students signed up for , and an $850 grant from the 99久久精品 Center for Community Engagement and Learning.

That program has since spawned several more. An  trains future teachers through 99久久精品鈥檚 College of Education. A  introduces Clark kids to the diverse health careers offered by the College of Health. CBPP also now offers a  at Clark, and the College of Engineering will soon launch its own partnership hosted at the middle school.

A Connection to College

But what is a program without participants? Williams and her staff work hard to promote these academies to Clark鈥檚 parents and students.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e looking for your student to get involved, we have something for them,鈥� she said.

Many Clark students come from families where college isn鈥檛 in the conversation, simply because no one at home has ever enrolled. These academies address that gap and get kids comfortable with college. Each academy offers lectures and hands-on learning but, Williams noted, 鈥渢he biggest thing is really the connections they make.鈥� In a city like Anchorage, it鈥檚 not uncommon for those 7th graders to see and talk to their academy professors at the grocery store.

鈥淛ust think about that,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚f they鈥檙e actually thinking about college 鈥� they have a person and a resource they can go to. It just creates a smoother pathway to making their dreams come true.鈥�

That鈥檚 important to Williams. Her staff can tell students about their options all day, but if they don鈥檛 convey that higher education means harder work, she said, 鈥渢hen we鈥檝e been really neglectful in creating a clear picture for them.鈥� She doesn鈥檛 want her students to just enroll in college, but to excel.

鈥淓very student doesn鈥檛 have to go to college, but we want to make sure they鈥檙e prepared,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淭hen, it鈥檚 their choice.鈥�

There are amazing things happening inside Clark Middle School. And like the building itself, Williams is designed to inspire.

鈥淰isions become reality, realities become opportunities, and opportunities become fulfillment for students,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful cycle that just keeps growing.鈥�