From Paraprofessional to Assistant School Director: Victoria Williams Passion
From Paraprofessional to Assistant School Director
Victoria Williams always knew she wanted to work with kids. What she didn’t know was that a career in special education would become her passion and lead her from a paraprofessional role to assistant school director at High Road School of Fairfield County in just a few years.
Williams joined the SESI family in April 2019 as a paraprofessional at B.E.S.T. Academy in Wallingford. She had a background in early childhood education and experience working in summer camps, elementary schools, and day care settings. But it was BEST Academy that opened her eyes to a new direction.
“I came across B.E.S.T. and saw that there was a chance to work with students with greater needs,” Williams said. “When I was growing up, I was always the helper for a student in my class who was nonverbal. I saw that connection and felt like this was really the job for me – one where I could make a difference in students’ lives.”
Building the Path to Assistant School Director
When a teaching position opened at B.E.S.T., Williams stepped into the role. She entered Connecticut’s Durational Shortage Area Permit program. This allowed her to teach while pursuing certification through the University of Hartford. The process required balancing coursework and student teaching alongside her classroom responsibilities, but Williams said the support she received made the transition seamless.
“The school staff was incredibly supportive. The teams at the University of Hartford and SESI worked together and collaborated,” she said. “The process was super smooth and the support never stopped.”
Growing Into Leadership at High Road School
She moved to High Road School of Fairfield County during the 2023-24 school year to teach middle school, eager to work with a new student population.
“I saw this as a new challenge and a chance to support a different population of students; it was something I wanted to try,” Williams said. “I am still young and figuring out what I want to do – and one of the great things about SESI is the opportunity to grow within the organization.”
That growth came quickly. After a stint as operations manager at BEST Academy, Williams returned to the High Road School of Fairfield County this school year as assistant school director. She is now working toward her 092 administrative certification.
Leadership Philosophy as Assistant School Director
Throughout each role, Williams said her approach to students has stayed the same: show up and be consistent.
“Consistency isn’t always something our students get,” she said. “I want to be consistently there for them – I want them to know I hear them and I see them. This approach has helped me build positive relationships with students and their families.”
For Williams, every step in her career has reinforced what she felt from the beginning, that this is exactly where she belongs.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to positively impact so many kids in such a short amount of time,” she said. “Seeing students take the skills we teach them and use them is incredibly rewarding. I work with my teams to celebrate all the wins of our students, no matter how small.”
