A Secondary Principal Receives Primary Recognition

Brentwood, New York (October 2020)—The Brentwood Union Free School District (BUFSD) is proud to celebrate Ms. Felicia Thomas-Williams, principal of West Middle School, who was honored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) after being named a 2020 New York Secondary Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) last March.

“On behalf of the Board of Education and central office, we are delighted to celebrate Felicia for this distinguished recognition,” said Mr. Richard Loeschner, Superintendent of Schools. “Felicia’s poised leadership and active listening skills have yielded wonderful results in the success of West Middle School’s students and staff throughout the years. Her ability to go above and beyond for those around her while excelling in her role and responsibilities as principal speaks volumes to the individual she is. We are so fortunate to have Felicia as part of our team.”

An educator since 1993, Thomas-Williams has implemented many inclusive and innovative programs, strengthening the home-school relationship and developing a truly welcoming culture at the school. A turning point in her understanding came after she had the opportunity to attend a session at the SAANYS 2017 Annual Conference on Adverse Childhood Experiences. She later shared her insights with the school's faculty and staff and arranged for embedded workshops with agencies to come work with students. The impact of learning about and responding to these students' experiences resulted in significant social-emotional gains at West Middle School.

“My constant focus on strengthening relationships between school and the home and increasing parent and community involvement has garnered significant momentum. Parents are encouraged to be active participants of the School Improvement Team, acting as liaisons to the PTA and West Middle School community,” said Ms. Felicia Thomas-Williams. “Our collaborations with several community-based organizations—the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, STRONG Youth, TRUST with the School County Police Department, Girl’s Inc., Plaza Communitaria, The WMS Mentoring Enrichment Program, the Brentwood Library, and Adelante—have helped to build an all-inclusive culture and recognize the shared responsibility for student performance and development. West Middle School recognizes that in order to meet the diverse needs of the students and families of the Brentwood community, the role of the school has to expand beyond traditional definitions of teaching and education.”

Thomas-Williams, an active community member, works with a myriad of organizations including the Parent Academy to foster positive relationships with parents. She also serves as community co-chair of My Brother's Keeper, and as an executive board member of the Brentwood Principals and Supervisors Organization. She is also a member of the board of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., a former member of the board of directors for the Wheatly Heights Mother's Club, a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, as well as being active in the Long Island Association for Curriculum and Development, and the Long Island Black Educators.

For more information about the Brentwood Union Free School District, please visit the district's website at http://www.bufsd.org/ and 'like' our Facebook page: @BrentwoodUnionFreeSchoolDistrict.