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Michael T. Williams
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Michael T. Williams ran for election to the Wake County Public School System to represent District 4 in North Carolina. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Michael T. Williams was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He earned a high school diploma from Granby High School, a bachelor's degree from Virginia State University in 1994, a graduate degree from Norfolk State University in 1999, and a Ph.D. from Cambridge College in 2020. His career experience includes working as an education consultant for North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, special educator, school administrator, school counselor, and central office staff member.[1][2]
Williams has been affiliated with the following organizations: [1][2]
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society
- National Alliance of Black School Educators
- Correctional Education Association
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
- American Correctional Association
Elections
2024
See also: Wake County Public School System, North Carolina, elections (2024)
General election
General election for Wake County Public School System, District 4
Incumbent Toshiba Rice defeated Michael T. Williams, Robert Morales Vergara (Unofficially withdrew), and Sean Callan in the general election for Wake County Public School System, District 4 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Toshiba Rice (Nonpartisan) | 65.0 | 31,965 | |
Michael T. Williams (Nonpartisan)  | 18.6 | 9,139 | ||
 | Robert Morales Vergara (Nonpartisan) (Unofficially withdrew) | 9.9 | 4,890 | |
| Sean Callan (Nonpartisan) | 5.6 | 2,737 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 478 | ||
| Total votes: 49,209 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Williams in this election.
2022
See also: Wake County Public School System, North Carolina, elections (2022)
General election
General election for Wake County Public School System, District 4
Incumbent Tara Waters defeated Becky Lew-Hobbs, Michael T. Williams, and Daniel Grant-King in the general election for Wake County Public School System, District 4 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tara Waters (Nonpartisan) | 63.3 | 21,055 |
 | Becky Lew-Hobbs (Nonpartisan) | 21.2 | 7,039 | |
| Michael T. Williams (Nonpartisan) | 9.8 | 3,258 | ||
| Daniel Grant-King (Nonpartisan) | 5.1 | 1,691 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 231 | ||
| Total votes: 33,274 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael T. 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.
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I am Mike Williams, a thirty year veteran in the human services industry with experience as an educator, entrepreneur, administrator, and counselor. I have earned degrees in Sociology, Counseling, and School Administration. I also have an earned Doctorate in Educational Leadership and possess licensure as a School counselor, School administrator and Division Superintendent. I have lived in Southeast Raleigh for nearly twenty years and am the chapter president of the Greater Triangle chapter of The Virginia State University Alumni Association. Additionally, I serve the community as a Commissioner appointed member of the Wake County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. I am the Student Transition Counselor for The North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention where I lead a team of transition coordinators who match students with the educational and vocational resources needed to continue or complete their education. Additionally, i administer the YDC grant which provides financial assistance to pay college tuition and fees for our students. In this capacity, I have initiated masterclass sessions which afford community partners the opportunity to share their resources with our students; coordinated second chance month and college/career day activities; and facilitated professional development for local, regional, and national organizations.
- Let The Children Play. Currently, .children are banned from playing sports in school if they have been adjudicated of various legal offenses even after they have completed their supervision period. This is not fair to the student as it significantly diminishes their chances of being seen by college scouts and using their talent as capital to finance their post secondary education and future career. It also disproportionately punishes indigent students, and students of color as they typically do not have the resources needed to finance an adequate defense for themselves. We must end this practice immediately and I will advocate for it as a member of the board.
- We Count Too I will advocate to ensure the funding and resources are distributed in an equitable manner based upon the academic, behavioral, and psychosocial needs of the students. Schools with lower proficiency rates, higher discipline rates, and significant absenteeism will be deployed resources to accommodate their challenges. This advocacy will include an accounting of how Title I, and other grant resources are being administered and their impact on student achievement and engagement
- Protecting Our Students and Staff in a Post Pandemic Environment We must review the results of the most recent safety audit and find the resources to implement those recommendations into our schools. Additionally, we must review the school climate surveys which are administered annually and develop an action plan based upon those results to improve the overall climate of our schools. School safety is an inside job. If we make every student feel as though they are a part of the overall culture of the school and take ownership of it they will be our front line soldiers in the See Something, Hear Something, Say Something campaigns to alert staff on potential security breaches and violators of school safety protocols
I am passionate about equity in our schools. Every student counts regardless of how they look, who they love, how they learn, or live. Our schools must have the resources needed to accommodate the needs of various students in an effort to inspire, engage, and educate all of them. As a steward of my constituents resources, it is incumbent upon me to ensure that our schools are funded adequately and those resources are distributed equitably.
My role model was the ate Bishop Lewis E Hines, pastor of the Way of The Cross COGIC. He was a man who had a heart for people and was always creating opportunities for persons to use and cultivate their gifts. He taught us to pray, seek the Lord in EVERYTHING, and serve others over ourselves. He afforded me the opportunity to serve as worship leader in the evening service as a sixteen year old young man. I would present him as "Dr" Lewis E Hines and I remember telling myself that one day I am going to be Dr. Michael T Williams. It took about thirty years but it finally happened.
Integrity. Politicians must underpromise and overdeliver. I was taught as a child that your word is your bond. We must always do what we say we are going to do. If there are mitigating or aggravating circumstances, we must immediately inform our citizens and develop an alternate strategy.
Managing the resources of the school district, Selecting a superintendent and holding them accountable for student performance and district operations, Reviewing policies to ensure that they consider the diverse characteristics of our students and staff while complying with federal, state, and local guidelines
My first post college job was at the Pines Residential Treatment Center as a residential counselor for seriously emotionally disabled children. I made $6.45 per hour which was about a dollar more than I made as a deli clerk at K Mart. I was bit, kicked, yelled at, had a child expose himself and threaten to urinate on me, etc. However, I learned some very valuable lessons which I have taken with me over these thirty years. I stayed at the Pines for four months but was employed by the company which owned the Pines for three years through full and part time positions
Hire a superintendent/district leader and ensure that they have the resources needed to fulfil the priorities as dictated by the community
The students, parents, staff, business owners and community members of the district
Ensure that we have the resources needed which will have the maximum impact to meet their varied needs and that those resources are being deployed in an equitable manner based upon those needs.
I will build relationships through attending Community Action Committee (CAC) meetings and facilitating Dialogue w/Doc Sessions to afford the residents of my district the opportunity to voice their concerns to me.
Good teaching are strategies which are employed that meet the educational needs of the students and assist them master the objectives and competencies as indicated by the Standard Course of Study
We should offer programming based upon the needs and interest of our students and career/vocational opportunities available within the community. We can expand vocational programming which leads to certification (welding, barbering, auto mechanic, etc.) and opportunities for students to earn college credit while inn school (AP classes, early college, college/career promise, dual enrollment)
Carefully reviewing the school budget and ensuring that maximum request from federal state local and private funding sources have been made, funds requested and received and allocated based upon the needs of the students.
Changing the school culture into an inclusive environment will decrease the probability of violence within schools. We must create and enforce policies which include engage and involve all students to keep everyone safe
Providing mental health counselors within the schools and facilitating regular group sessions regarding varied risk factors present within the school. Also affording students/team members the opportunity to meet with mental health counselors individually as needed. In addition, faculty/staff should have access to robust EAP services to accommodate their varied mental health challenges
While not a district policy, I will vigorously advocate to the NCHSSA for the elimination of the sports ban for students who have legal infractions
One in which they are inspired, engaged, and receive individualized instruction based upon their needs
Given the circumstances surrounding the pandemic and its unexpected consequences, I think the district handled it appropriately
I would build those relationships by being respectful, responsive, and receptive. Most people really want to be heard. If I create opportunities for parents to voice and vent their concerns we will build relationships and improve outcomes for our students
As we are facing a major shortage of educators, we must use all tools in our arsenal to recruit team members, HR personnel must facilitate virtual career fairs, attend college/career days, expedite in person career fairs and social media outlets to engage and enlist qualified and interested parties
If you have to do it in the dark, do not do it. As public servants we are accountable to them. We get evaluated at least every quadrennial and if we are not adequately representing them, we get replaced. In that light, we must always strive to represent our citizens interest while complying with relevant regulations.
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.
2022
Michael T. Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. 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.
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I am a sixteen year resident of the Southeast Raleigh Community having lived there since 2006. Currently, I serve as an Education Consultant I for the North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. I am a licensed school administrator, school counselor and Division Superintendent by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. I have several earned degrees to include a B.A. in Sociology, M.A. in Counseling, and an Ed. D. in Educational Leadership. To that end, I am a life member if the Virginia State University and Norfolk State University Alumni Associations.. In 2021, I was honored by the National Alliance of Black School Educators as the recipient of the W.E.B. DuBois Higher Education Award fir my services in assisting students fulfil their post secondary education goals. I have been privileged to facilitate workshops before several organizations to include the Council for Urban Boards of Education, Alliance for Higher Education in Prisons, Correctional Education Association, NC Department of Commerce, National Alliance of Black School Educators, American School Counselors Association and NC Council for Exceptional Education to name a few.
- If elected I will serve as an advocate for resources for our schools
- If elected, I will implement venues to engage our community in meeting the needs of our schools
- If elected, I will focus my efforts on supporting our students and staff members
I am passionate about ensuring that our schools have the human, physical, fiscal, technological, and other resources necessary to meet the needs of the students we serve. While the tax base in our community may not be as high as some other parts of the district, our students are just as valuable and important as those in the more affluent areas of the district. It is incumbent upon us as parents, guardians, and concerned citizens to ensure that every student in our area receives a quality education from highly qualified professionals, in safe and modern facilities replete with state of the art technological and instructional rresources.
My role model is the late Dr. Lewis E. Hines. He was my pastor, mentor, and sometimes "jokingly" my tormentor. As a teenager, he would allow me the opportunity to "open up" the night service. I vividly remember presenting him every Sunday night as "Dr" Lewis E Hines. I would often tell myself that one day, I am going to be "Dr" Michael T Williams. While it took thirty years, in 2020, it became a reality. He was a person who saw people as God saw them and helped them to realize their potential regardless of their past failures, faults, and fears. I hope that I have been able to do the same over the last twenty eight years I have been serving young people and their families.
Integrity. As a child, my "pops" had a saying that I believe is still appropriate today "Your word is your bond". I took this saying to mean that people ought to depend on what you say and that you will follow through on any of the promises that you made to them. If you say you are going to do something, then it is incumbent upon you to do it. If you are encountering difficulties, apprize the people who you promised and work to overcome the challenges which may have presented themselves so that you can keep your word. Keep your word...If you say it DO IT! As a person or a politician I have always tried to keep my word and follow through on the promises I made. My hope is to be the candidate who is recognized by the phrase "Promises Made, Promises Kept".
My legacy will be "Promises Made and Promises Kept". I will not make promises that I cannot keep. If there are extenuating circumstances, I will inform my constituents and develop a plan to overcome the circumstances or at minimum, provide accommodations for the issues the plan was designed to address.
At the age of sixteen, I preached my initial sermon. As I did not have a relationship with "grace" I condemned all of the parishioners to eternal judgement. It was only after four years of college, where I became intimately acquainted with grace that I softened my message and introduced my audience to the message of redemption and reconciliation.
My first job post college was as a residential counselor at the Pines Residential Treatment Center. There I served severally mentally and behaviorally challenged children to provide them with the resources needed to help them cope with the abuse, neglect, and/or other challenges which delayed their normal course of development. i was at that facility for four months but worked for the company which owned the facility for over two years.
To provide support and oversight of the resources entrusted to the school district by the citizens of the county. This includes ensuring parity and equity in funding, human resources, capital development, etc. for all schools within the district as it relates to both the numbers of students in their schools and the respective needs of those students.
My constituents are the residents of the community who entrusted me with their voice on the board, the teachers and staff who serve the students who are attending our schools, and the parents and students who are dependent upon them to provide instruction which will prepare them for a career which pays them a livable wage.
Three preachers went on a retreat. One night they had a "confessional" and began to share some of the challenges they were facing in ministry. The first preacher said I have a gambling problem, the problem has become so pronounced that i have taken my name off the church accounts and put them in the name of my wife because I was using the money as my personal account and gambling it away. We almost lost the church a few times and I couldn't live with myself if that would have happened. The other preacher said I have a problem with the women in my church. I don't know what comes over me but eighteen to eighty, blind cripple or crazy, whether they are married or single, I want to mingle. I carry a gun at all times and keep one in my study because some of the husbands have threatened my life. It seems like with this situation that the flesh is willing and the spirit is weak. The third preacher was just sitting there quiet and smiling. The brothers looked at him and asked alright "Rev" what's up with you? He stated well I have a gossiping problem....and I cant wait to get home.
I plan to host regular "Dialogue w/ Doc" listening sessions to hear the commendations, concerns, and complaints of the constituents. Additionally, I will collaborate with principals and other school administrators to determine their needs and enlist the community in providing the resources to meet their needs. I will sponsor District 4 Days at School Board meetings to enlist community support particularly during budgetary sessions and policy revisions which may impact the students within our area. I hope to develop and leverage relationships with various community, fraternal, and social organizations and utilize those relationships to emgae the community in the governance and oversight of our schools
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Footnotes
