From the Art Lounge, With Love
For Kristen Williams, education has always been more than a career, it’s been her calling. Born and raised in the D.C. area to a family of educators, Ms. Williams began working in early childhood education her senior year of high school and has never looked back. After spending time working at the daycare center on Andrews Air Force Base, she spent 12 years in early childhood special education at a different public charter school. She then brought her deep care for children to KIPP DC’s Pride Academy. She started as an assistant teacher in Kindergarten, and five years later, she’s the Lead Art Teacher bringing joy and creativity to every KIPPster at Pride.
When we asked Ms. Williams what keeps her at KIPP DC, she doesn’t even hesitate: it’s her school leadership. “I just feel like [my principal] believes in me,” she says. “He’s trusted me to teach pretty much everything at Pride. I started in kindergarten, then PreK4, then PreK3. Each year during our check-ins, he’d ask where I saw myself next, and I’d say, ‘The kids need some art.’ Then the minute we needed [an art teacher], he said, ‘You ready?’ And I was.” It is this confidence and trust that have shaped Ms. Williams’ experience at Pride Academy. “There’s a lot of learning and growth that happens here, that’s what makes [KIPP DC] unique.”
As the Art teacher, Ms. Williams sees every student in the school, although for shorter periods than their homeroom teacher. Still, this doesn’t stop her from being intentional about creating meaningful relationships with each student. “It starts in the morning,” she shares. “At Pride, we’re outside during arrival. I walk students to their classrooms and a lot of times it’s just me and maybe one other child. [It’s a good time] just talking to them and personalizing that conversation to them.” This approach does not stop at arrival, in her classroom (affectionately called the Art Lounge), we watch Ms. Williams connect with all her students, rotate through centers, and find moments to sit, talk, and learn about each one of them.
With decades of classroom experience, Ms. Williams values KIPP DC’s approach to professional development, particularly the focus on building classroom culture. A standout moment for her came when at a professional development session she learned the art of implementing ‘Turn & Talks.’ “Coming from my special education background we didn’t do turn and talks because a lot of the students were non-verbal,” she explains. “You really have to be thoughtful and think about what we can talk about that day? And I try to do a different one every day so the kids don’t necessarily get tired of it.” Whether it’s asking students to reflect on their art or sparking curiosity with questions tied to cultural celebrations, Ms. Williams has made Turn & Talks a staple in her room, helping KIPPsters to grow their voice, confidence, and have a chance to be heard.
Ask Ms. Williams her favorite thing about her students and you’ll watch her face light up! “Their personalities. They are hilarious. Every day is something new. I just love their personalities, their smiles, just everything about them.” And to us, it’s clear that the love is mutual. From the moment students arrive in the Art Lounge right until the very end, there’s genuine excitement to learn and practice art.
For anyone considering joining KIPP DC, she offers this advice: “If you come in willing to put in the work, you’ll grow. It’s a place full of opportunity.”
See photos from our visit to Ms. Williams’s classroom.
