ben (dot) williams (at) dc (dot) gov
Ben Williams lives in Ward 1 and has been teaching in Washington, D.C.’s public schools for the past 9 years. He is the oldest of six siblings and learned about the need to cooperate from a young age. Before moving to the District in 2014, he pursued his undergraduate education at Ohio State University and earned a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Michigan. During college, he volunteered at schools both in the United States and abroad. He quickly realized too many children face systemic barriers to learning and maximizing their full potential. He became a teacher to reduce those barriers and expand opportunities for children of all ages.
Following his education in Columbus, Ohio, he became a 3rd grade teacher in Detroit and since 2011, he has taught elementary, middle, and high school students. He currently teach U.S. Government, AP Government, and D.C. History and Government to 12th graders at Capital City Public Charter School. He recently completed his National Board Teacher Certification, an achievement awarded to under three percent of teachers nationwide who demonstrate standards of accomplished teaching.
He believes deeply in the importance of community and strives to be an active community member. For the last four years, he has been a policy fellow and community advocate with EmpowerEd. With EmpowerEd, he has worked with teachers, students, and families across the District to advance a more just and equitable education system for all D.C. students. He is also an active member of the D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (DCAESJ). A project of Teaching for Change, DCAESJ works to strengthen social justice teaching and make sure students have access to relevant and meaningful learning experiences.