New educational leadership faculty member brings urban school leadership experience

LaMonica Williams

In August we welcomed LaMonica Williams, clinical assistant professor in educational leadership and policy studies, to Purdue University. Williams comes to us from Chicago Public Schools District 299 where she held positions as the director of special education, principal, and assistant principal. 

She holds an Ed.D. in urban education leadership and a M.Ed. in instructional leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor’s in elementary education from Illinois State University. 

“We are excited that LaMonica has joined our ed leadership faculty,” said Janet Alsup, head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and interim head of the Department of Educational Studies. “Her expertise, experience, and commitment to urban school leadership and virtual instruction will strengthen our already vibrant program.” 

Williams believes it is every educator’s responsibility to create equitable learning opportunities through a model she refers to as a diagnostic-prescriptive approach in identifying and meeting children’s learning needs. In doing that, educators can begin to close achievement gaps and combat apathy in urban education.

Her teaching interests include K-12 school leadership and teacher education. This academic year she’s teaching EDST 69400 Internship-Building Level and EDST 61400 Leadership for Community Collaboration and Development. On top of relocating from Chicago and starting her new faculty position, she’s also juggling the ever-changing needs of her students due to COVID-19. Her research interests in virtual learning help ease that challenge and her experience with virtual schools helps inform curriculum and instruction methods for her classes. 

“Purdue is a world-renowned institution with a top-ranked College of Education,” said Williams. “I have always wanted to be a part of an institution that would give me an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience as a school leader and help shape future school leaders.”