After 15 years of advocating for Leon County Schools, Charles Antonio Williams has decided to be a part of the method of solutions –- by running for Leon County School Board District 3.
Since 2003, the southern Leon County native has been affiliated with the education system and its programs in the county.
Williams has served on the School Advisory Council, Title I Advisory Council, District Advisory Council, the LCS Budgeting Committee, Staffing Committee and is currently the 2018-2019 Capital Outlay chairman. He is also the James S. Rickards High School Alumni Association president, and has served under three superintendents.
The sentimental value that connects Williams to his intended position is unwavering. He was born on the campus of FAMU at the A&M Hospital, graduated from Rickards High School in 1988, and has put considerable time into the overall success of the Leon County community.
“I am running for Leon County School Board District 3 because I truly love my community. My community is my family. I have lived in District 3 my entire life with the exception to my time served in the Air Force and four years spent in St. Petersburg, Florida.”
He credits his work ethic to his father, John Williams, who was the manager of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the largest black-owned insurance company in the 1970s. He makes it clear that without the support of family, his success would be unattainable.
“As I watched my father work, he showed me professionalism and mentorship. He was the first businessman I’d ever met. He served the underserved and demonstrated just how influential one person could be. My mother was the perfect example of how to remain humble, yet strong and demonstrated a great deal of perseverance. As a devoted, Christian I am grateful for her influencing me to be a praying man.”
His daughter, Chanyce Williams, does not fall far from the family tree when it comes to the abundance of love and support targeted at a respective businessman.
“He is the most selfless person I have ever met, and he continuously goes above and beyond to make sure that everyone is represented and advocated for. Now that he has decided to come forward and run for the Leon County School Board, I am ecstatic to help and support him in any way I can. He’s given his all to make sure that my dreams come true, and now I am blessed to get the opportunity to do the same for him,” she said.
Williams is confident that his experience will pay off for him in the election process.
“I am the most involved, informed and dedicated candidate to the community. I am the only candidate that is informed of the issues that need to be addressed immediately. There will be no learning curve as I am ready to start from day one. I have been the most dedicated, non-employee advocate of the Leon County School District for the past 15 years and I would love to continue to protect and serve our community as the Leon County School Board District 3 representative.”
He said he wants to make the school system more transparent regarding all of its business operations, policies and planning procedures. He says his ultimate goal is to have no failing Title I schools and to have all of them eligible to become Distinguished National Title I schools.
District 3 schools include Bond Elementary, Fairview Middle, Fort Braden K-8, Nims Middle, Oak Ridge Elementary, Pineview Elementary, Rickards High, Sabal Palm Elementary and Woodville K-8.
Maggie Lewis-Butler, Donna Hayes-Austin, and Darryl Jones are also running in the primary election for District 3 on the Leon County school board.