Kate Williams (Oklahoma)

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Kate Williams

Nonpartisan

Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education Zone 5

Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2030

Years in position

0

Predecessor

Jerry Denton

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

February 11, 2025

Education

High school

Troy Athens High School

Bachelor's

Oakland University, 2005

Graduate

Eastern Michigan University, 2009

Ph.D

University of Tulsa, 2015

Personal

Birthplace

Detroit, Mich.

Profession

Business owner

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Kate Williams is a member of the Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education in Oklahoma, representing Zone 5. She assumed office on March 10, 2025. Her current term ends in 2030.

Williams won election to the Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education to represent Zone 5 in Oklahoma outright in the primary on February 11, 2025, after the general election was canceled.

Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kate Williams was born in Detroit, Michigan. She earned a bachelor's degree from Oakland University in 2005, a graduate degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2009, and a Ph.D. from the University of Tulsa in 2015. Her career experience includes working as a business owner and adjunct professor.

Elections

2025

See also: Broken Arrow Public Schools, Oklahoma, elections (2025)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education Zone 5

Kate Williams won election outright against incumbent Jerry Denton and Bruce Lamont in the primary for Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education Zone 5 on February 11, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kate Williams (Nonpartisan)	50.4	680
		Jerry Denton (Nonpartisan)	33.9	457
	Submit photo	Bruce Lamont (Nonpartisan)	15.8	213

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,350
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Williams in this election.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kate Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Williams' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a mom, educator, and small business owner living in Zone 5 of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I have always been passionate about education, which is what led me to graduate with a Ph.D. from the University of Tulsa. I currently teach composition at The University of Tulsa and Tulsa Community College. Many of my students are recent graduates from Broken Arrow and surrounding districts. This allows me to see what skills they are gaining from high school and where there are opportunities for improvement.

I know that the challenges I face in the classroom pale in comparison to what our educators face every day. I want to be a voice for our educators who work tirelessly to provide the best environment and education possible for our students. At the same time, I want to represent the parents of the district who have questions and concerns about the state of their children's education.

In addition to teaching at TU and TCC, I am a business owner. My Broken Arrow-based company, People First Content, works with businesses worldwide to create content ranging from website and email copy to white papers, research articles, and full-length books. I am adept at conducting research and filling knowledge gaps.

I have previous board experience as the Secretary for Oklahoma Women in Technology and the Home and School Board President and Vice President for Holy Family Cathedral School (now Holy Family Classical School).

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Student success begins with teacher success. Our students can only be as engaged as their teachers, and it is our responsibility to make sure our teachers are well trained to be in the classroom as well as emotionally and financially supported to do their jobs effectively. As a board member, I will be a fierce advocate for teacher autonomy and training to ensure they are given the support, tools, and resources necessary to do what they do best without fear of repercussions or government interference.
• Teachers can't do it alone. They need the support of the parents and guardians who care for their students. Many parents and guardians want to be more involved in their school communities but are unsure of the steps required to do so. I have previously built a system of parental involvement that brought more parents into the community without overburdening them with responsibilities. I will do the same thing in Broken Arrow if elected as board member of Zone 5.
• Every student deserves to feel safe and seen in the classroom. Building a stronger support network for teachers and getting parents and guardians more involved in school communities will help support all our students, especially those who most need our attention and support. It's time to do our part to dig Oklahoma out from 49th in education by providing better learning environments that help our students gain the valuable skills they need to succeed after they graduate, regardless of where their career path takes them. Broken Arrow has done a great job so far of providing varying learning environments, and I want to continue to support this important vision as a board member.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Speaking one-on-one with constituents is essential for elected officials who want to work on behalf of the people they represent. Hiding behind a computer or a desk isn't going to cut it. Additionally, elected officials need to demonstrate their trustworthiness and be adept at respectfully discussing issues from varying viewpoints and perspectives without letting emotions cloud judgment.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am analytical and prefer to make decisions based on facts and data instead of emotions. I am highly skilled in research and will make decisions based on credible, verifiable evidence.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A core responsibility is delivering timely responses to public inquiries that goes beyond simple 'yes' or 'no' answers. The person in this position should have real conversations with parents, teachers, and students regularly to find out what challenges they are facing that the board can help address or bring to the attention of other administrators. Additionally, the person in this office needs to have a commitment to attending all school board meetings and events. They should also have a thirst for knowledge to uncover what new ideas, technologies, and tools are available to propel our district forward. They can't assume they are the smartest person in the room and instead need to be open to hearing diverse opinions and ideas.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like the district to have higher parent involvement and student engagement at the end of my tenure.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was as a lifeguard for a community pool. I worked there for 4 years -- two in high school and two in college. It was a great way to gain valuable experience working with the public.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Paradise by Toni Morrison. It speaks to the challenges we face as humans by presenting characters who have done objectively terrible things in a humane, empathetic way. I love how Morrison presents stories without judgement, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

First and foremost, school board members are advocates for students and their ability to learn most effectively. School board members are also the voice of the teachers, students, parents, and taxpayers living in their zones. They need to be open to hearing from those constituents and bringing their concerns and questions to the larger governing body, including the state legislature.

Who are your constituents?

My constituents are the students, parents, and taxpayers living in my zone, as well as the teachers and administrators serving in the schools within my area. Public education affects the entire society, and everyone benefits when our students have the best possible chances to succeed. Secondary constituents are everyone else living in the district, as the decisions made by the board impact them regardless of what zone they live in.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

Getting into the community and having conversations with the students, faculty, staff, and community within the district is the best way to hear about their diverse needs. I will be a vocal advocate for supporting these needs to the board, administration, and, if necessary, state legislation.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

I will start by targeting the administration and PTA of the schools within my zone to learn about their needs and concerns. Additionally, I will hold regular virtual office hours where members of the broader community can meet with me to discuss their concerns and challenges or just to get to know me better. We are a large school district, but we should not be strangers. We are all part of the great community of Broken Arrow, and we should be spending more time getting to know each other and how we can all work toward providing better learning environments for our students and teachers.

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

An ideal learning environment is distraction-free so teachers can focus their time and attention on educating students instead of monitoring behavior. It should have all the resources and tools that teachers need to do their jobs, with technology that enhances their teaching without detracting from it. It should have a class ratio that allows teachers to focus on individual students as needed without detracting from the rest of the class. Additionally, an ideal learning environment supports emotional well-being. It is a safe space for students, where they can feel free to express their ideas and thoughts without fear of repercussions or bullying. Students need to feel comfortable asking questions and seeking help from their teachers and, at times, their peers. The ideal learning environment encourages curiosity and allows students to make mistakes they can learn from. It also stresses critical thinking and autonomy, especially as students advance into secondary education.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

I believe in open-door communication. If elected, I plan to hold regular office hours where parents can stop in to chat about what's on their minds, either individually or with a group. I will also meet with the PTAs of the schools in my zone to hear directly from them about the challenges they face and the concerns they have within their schools.

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

The key to hiring more faculty, staff, and administrators is raising their pay. The state legislature needs to be held accountable for this task and to be presented with a thorough, data-driven argument demonstrating that the only way to recruit and retain the best educators is to pay them more. As for the educators we have in place currently, we need to make sure their working environments are the best they can be, including keeping class sizes manageable and doing what it takes to minimize the amount of work they are required to do outside of their work hours.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Williams completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• League of Women Voters

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