WHEREAS, Ms. Lisa Williams received the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership in Washington, D.C., at the 2010 Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony on November 16; and

WHEREAS, the Terrel H. Bell Award recognizes principals who are school leaders committed to fostering successful teaching and learning at their schools; principals who do whatever it takes to help their students meet high standards; and principals who demonstrate that they understand failure is not an option when it comes to educating America’s children; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, Ms. Lisa Williams was named principal of Mobile County’s Anna F. Booth Elementary School, a school labeled “a low-performing school,” and over the last seven years Anna F. Booth’s student population fluctuated between 82 and 91 percent students on free-and-reduced lunches, 16 and 34 percent students who were English Language Learners, and 11 and 67 percent migrant students; and

WHEREAS, despite these challenges, Ms. Lisa Williams has had a clear vision for Anna F. Booth Elementary: students should and could reach the same high academic standards achieved by students in schools with fewer challenges, and during her tenure as principal Anna F. Booth Elementary has been recognized by the Alabama Department of Education as a high-poverty, high-performing Torchbearer School of Distinction for five consecutive years; and

WHEREAS, under her leadership, grade-level proficiency at Anna F. Booth Elementary in Reading for 3rd-5th grades is at or above 88 percent; 63 percent of 3rd grade, 56 percent of 4th grade, and 77 percent of 5th grade exceeded standards in Reading; grade-level proficiency in Math for 3rd-5th grades is at or above 82 percent; 73percent of 3rd grade, 61 percent of 4th grade, and 71 percent of 5th grade exceeded standards in Math; and

WHEREAS, the once-perceived low-performing school is now an exemplary school with nationally competitive students – a school with an empowering culture that promotes both student and teacher success; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Lisa Williams is an outstanding school leader who inspires, guides, and sustains others and shows that with effective leadership and teaching and a conviction that all students can learn and, schools can become powerful, joyful places that generate energy in their communities; and

WHEREAS, when nominating her for the Terrel H. Bell Award, her faculty described Ms. Lisa Williams as one who “embodies belief in our children’s ability and regularly communicates to students that they are as capable as any children in this nation”:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby congratulate Ms. Lisa Williams as the recipient of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership.

Done this 9th day of December 2010