By Stella Fabinski
Photos courtesy of Brooke Williams
As is concomitant with the beginning of a new school year, transitions in staff are adding new faces to the mix. The art department has been subject of one of these recent transitions; we’re welcoming Mrs. Williams to GHS. She teaches eight art classes in five
periods, consisting of beginning classes through advanced classes in painting, drawing, and two APs. Despite coming from a background of many other schools around Jeffco, she isn’t new to Golden. Consulting the yearbooks from the 1970s will lead you to pictures of her dad, a GHS alum and member of both the Key Club and the G Club (essentially a gentleman’s club, a feature of a bygone era). In fact, coming from a line of family coming through Jeffco, including her grandma, dad, uncle, aunt, and husband. She herself began her education at South Lakewood Elementary, and has spent most of her life in the area.
Mrs. Williams is by no means new to teaching, but it has been a few years since she’s been in a classroom. “I was the JCEA president,” she says. That’s the Jefferson County Education Association. “It entails quite a lot. […] We negotiate teachers pay, health benefits, and then when we’re not in negotiations, we’re defending that contract. So, if the contract is not being followed by certain administration, or even certain teachers, we work really hard to make sure that contract is being upheld.” Mrs. Williams is familiar with the behind the scenes of teaching, and she’s excited to be back on the teaching side of things. From defending students, to be the one teaching them. But her work didn’t end there. “I also worked on student funding, so I would lobby at the Capitol, I would work on election work.” Mrs. William’s background of educational campaigning is diverse and reputable.
“A lot of meetings and a lot of emails,” she laughs. The end of her term as president brings her to our art department after a long period of the political side of education. “I always loved art as a kid, and I babysat a lot and I liked working with kids. When I was a senior in high school, my counselor had set up a meeting with me to talk about college and what I was interested in. So I was thinking, ‘Well, what am I interested in?’ And I decided I wanted to become an art teacher my senior year when I was sitting in an art class before my meeting with a counselor.” From there, she went to UNC in Greeley, praising their teaching and art programs. Getting her start as an art teacher at a job fair, teaching at South Middle school in Aurora for about 2 years, where she met her husband in his position as a special ed teacher. Together, they relocated to the outskirts of Littleton.
She started her career at Stevens Elementary for a brief period before moving to South Lakewood Elementary for about 10 years. She then relocated to Belmar, then Alameda High School in 2015. “And then I became the union president, and now I’m at Golden.” It’s safe to say that Mrs. Williams feels confident in all sides of the teaching scene here in Jeffco. “Teaching here is, like, a dream job. And I know I got some big shoes to fill, but I love Mr. Miller. He’s a good guy. And I have an amazing art room with a great view. I couldn’t ask for a better job, for sure.” It’s exciting to have someone so passionate about students and their art here at Golden. Come say hello to her in the art room and help welcome her to GHS.
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