Welcome to Marquez
Greetings Marquez Charter Elementary Community:
Happy New School Year! Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year. It’s official, my name is on the marquee and my picture is on the website. I am Emily Williams and I am DELIGHTED to have been selected to serve as your new principal. For those of you I have met, thank you for your gracious welcome, warm wishes and cheerful smiles. For those of you I have yet to meet, I look forward to that moment.
Congratulations on earning a 936 API. The 16 point gain and meeting all growth targets are indicators of your arduous work and the leadership of Mr. Hollis. As a team of faculty, staff and parents working together we will continue to build the academic excellence that is the foundation of the education program at Marquez Charter Elementary School.
I am excited to have been selected to serve as your new principal because I recognize and applaud the well-earned reputation of excellence Marquez Charter Elementary School has, which is proudly based on the dedicated professional educators, faculty, staff members and parents who continuously seek out new and innovative strategies and tools to ensure the best education for every child. I salute the partnerships with the parents, families and community members all of whom provide diverse and enriching educational experiences to this learning community.
Over 20 years ago, with only six months of hands-on teaching experience to my credit, LAUSD gave me a room key and entrusted me with the education of 34 first graders. That moment marked the beginning of my quest for the best instructional practices that motivated my students to love learning and to achieve to the highest standards. I surrounded myself with the best practitioners in our profession who mentored me with clear expectations and inspired me to grow. I remember that year like it was yesterday. Teaching became my vocation and my avocation, and remains so to this day. Since then, I’ve taught all of the elementary grades, high school, and adults. In the variety of positions I’ve held throughout the district, I’ve been blessed to work with instructional leaders who fostered a culture of continuous and respected collaboration, reflection, innovation and FUN much like what I know of the culture here at Marquez Charter Elementary School. And I intend to continue and play it forward.
As I transition to Marquez Charter Elementary School, I am aware of the anticipation and eagerness new leadership brings to any organization. I am also aware that change can provoke the tingles of excitement and anxiety. Please know that one of my primary goals is working together to expand the learning experiences and opportunities for each child as outlined in the charter and beyond with the ultimate goal of every student acquiring the necessary skills to become productive and positive members of our diverse, ever-changing local and global communities. This is the heart of our work. In order to work together to achieve our goals, I need to learn about you, and our learning community. I eagerly anticipate getting to know each member of the Marquez community, learning about your interests, expectations and goals for this year. As we work together on the various councils, committees and the governing board, I look forward to learning about what is important to you about Marquez Charter Elementary School? What do you want to learn more about? What accomplishments are you most proud? What do you want and need to work on next? Learning the answers to these questions and to questions we have yet to ask is one of my top priorities because they set the tone for the beginning of our work together.
I believe, as you have shown by example, collaboration fosters ownership of a rich and vibrant school culture. You will find my door open. Please, come in, pull up a chair and let’s talk, discuss and debate the new course we are about to chart. I’m excited about our new journey!
Together, as we begin our new journey of creating new chapters in the legacy of Marquez Charter Elementary School, you will hear me talk about “the golden time of transition.” It’s that in-between time when we’ve let go of the “old” yet we have not quite embraced “the new.” This golden time is documented as being one of the most fertile and creative times in the lives of the people who are an organization. I look forward to working together to create a kaleidoscope of possibilities as we “transition” and create our new chapters about the lives of the individuals who are Marquez Charter Elementary School.
Emily Williams, Principal
