Commissioner Profile: Harriette Williams Brings 40 Years of Experience in Educational Leadership

Commissioner Harriette F. Williams has more than 40 years of professional experience in various positions within the LA Unified School District. She has served as a teacher, counselor, principal, director of Instruction, and administrator of Operations.

Dr. Williams has also been an educational consultant to various organizations and school districts including Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Teach for America, the Association of California School Administrators, the LAUSD Intern Teacher Program, and the Southern California Network for Alternative Certification Programs.

Dr. Williams has served as chair of the LA County Commission for Children and Families and CEO of Minerva Foundation. She is also a life member and past officer of the UCLA Alumni Association; and a member of the NAACP, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., and National Council of Negro Women.

She received a bachelor's degree, teaching credentials, and doctorate from UCLA and her master's degree in counseling and administration from Cal State LA.

What is your idea of a perfect world?
A world in which all people give and receive respect, and where basic human needs are satisfied.

What is the greatest societal challenge we face today?
Attaining universal literacy, and the pursuit of world peace.

Which living person do you most admire and why?
There are many --- strong women who work for the good of humankind.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Ms. Adams, a high school mathematics teacher, who expected the very best from each student, and personally worked hard to achieve this perfection from all. She opened up the threshold of my mind in mathematics, and in many life lessons.

What is your motto?
Make a difference through service for all.