Dr. Michelle Williams, a long-time administrator in facility management, construction and safety and security, has been appointed as executive director of facilities for the Harris County Department of Education.

“After I met Mr. Colbert and started meeting other people on the team and reading more about the organization, I just got more and more excited about what HCDE does,” Dr. Williams said. “It really spoke to my heart, and I just wanted to be a part of it. I feel like I bring a solid skill set and this is a great time for me to make a move like this.”

Dr. Williams most recently served as operations director at Fredericksburg Independent School District. She is currently in her 27th year in education, beginning her career as an agricultural science and natural resource instructor in Sinton ISD and later in Tuloso-Midway ISD.

She moved to the private sector in 2007 before returning to Tuloso-Midway ISD as a classroom teacher and also serving as the school district’s career and technology coordinator for two years.

Dr. Williams moved into administration in 2013, serving as director of technology and career and technical education for Tuloso-Midway ISD.

“I was encouraged by a mentor that saw leadership potential in me,” she said. “I was able to watch her leadership style and have been able to work with some really great people over the years to get to where I am now.”

In 2018, Dr. Williams was named director of technology for Fredericksburg ISD and later assumed the duties of overseeing the maintenance, facilities and custodial departments. She accepted her current position at Fredericksburg ISD in 2020.

“It’s important that we provide an environment that is the best learning and working environment for our students and staff,” she said. “Research has proven that is integral to learning. If you have facilities and areas that are not good places to walk into, they’re not conducive to learning and working. So having that safe, clean and solid environment is the best we can do and maintenance of facilities helps to protect the taxpayer’s investment.”

During her time in the classroom, Dr. Williams helped in the state adoption of agriculture curriculum as science credit. While at Sinton ISD, she became the first competitive female Agricultural Mechanics coach in the state. She was instrumental in implementing career programs for trades at Tuloso-Midway ISD that were relevant to the district and Coastal Bend region.

Dr. Williams earned her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and her Master of Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University. She earned her Doctor of Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.