Jesse Floyd
The new principal greeting children this year at the Burbank might be an unfamiliar face in Belmont, but she is a veteran educator with deep roots in eastern Massachusetts.
For Lisa Williams, the formative elementary years are a fascinating time when children blossom as people. She said it’s a crucial series of transitions from day one of kindergarten until they leave for the next level.
“It’s often the first time families are really trusting other people to help with their children,” she said. “They’re really important years and you have a significant impact on helping the child form their self-esteem and their self-images, helping them to feel empowered and proud of who they are. So it’s the beginning of it all.”
Williams grew up in Stow and now lives in Sudbury. She graduated from Framingham State College and holds an advanced degree from Lesley University in Cambridge. She taught for 31 years in Lexington, mostly in front of elementary-age students.
She eventually evolved into administration, holding a principal position in Sudbury, before deciding it was time to look for her next landing spot.
When she was looking for the next career challenge, she said it was important to find a district that aligned with her values.
According to Williams, she found it in Belmont.
“I was looking for a district that shared my own values as an educator,” she said. “Belmont is very much all about helping …. It’s a community where we’re focused on helping everyone know and feel that they belong and that they are important contributors.”
Williams views education as a holistic process that involves everyone in the child’s life, from parents and family to teachers and new friends.
“I love that everybody has a voice. It’s really important to me that students, parents, staff, families, administrators, everyone has a voice in what’s happening,” she said.
She’s felt Belmont’s ingrained support system first-hand. Arriving in July, she had about eight weeks to prepare for the first children to spill off the buses into the school’s hallways.
“I’ve definitely been on the learning curve. It’s a brand new school district for me,” she said. “So, I’m really learning about how things operate. I have to say the whole community has been wonderful — the support and the generosity and the time people have given me.”
She called the willingness of staff members to interrupt their summers to meet her and offer help “generous.”
It all led up to the Sept. 6 opening, which went off without a hitch, according to Williams.
“That’s a testament to the staff and the families and the trust,” Williams said.
Even with that support and cooperation, there were, Williams admitted, butterflies leading up to opening day.
For parents, Williams encourages them to get involved, make connections and reassure their kids that things are going to be just fine.
“It’s really hard, naturally, for parents to see their children have worries. That’s a natural part of development,” she said. “It’s okay to just reassure them and say, ‘Yeah, I used to feel like that when school was new to me.’”
