About+Ashley+Williams

“Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” Albert Einstein

__Do You Know Me? __
Since I was a little girl, it has been my dream to work with children. Originally, my plan was to major in a field that would push me in toward medical school so that I could pursue a career in Pediatrics Oncology. Being a native of Northwest Arkansas, I knew from the moment I was five years old standing in the stadium calling the Hogs that I would attend the University of Arkansas. While attending the U of A, I worked at Washington Regional Hospital as a Pathology Tech. I graduated in 1998 from the U of A with a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry Cum Laude with an emphasis on Hydrophobic Matching of Shortened Gramicidins with Lipids of Different Lengths.

While searching for a research position, I wanted to spend my time working with kids, so I decided to add my name to the substitute list. Fall rolled around, and my phone was ringing at five o’clock in the morning on a regular basis. I never said no to the opportunity to work with kiddos. One mid August morning, my phone rang and the voice on the other end said, “Can you go to Apple Glen to sub in a 4th grade classroom?” While sitting with a group of students on the floor of that 4th grade classroom, I noticed a man in a suit standing in the doorway watching me. Before I knew it, that afternoon he and I were walking down the hallway to a kindergarten classroom where I would be the maternity sub for the first semester. From late September through Christmas, I was cutting, pasting, coloring, assessing students, creating lesson plans – working harder than I ever had in the past. Before I knew it, he had convinced me to be the permanent substitute for Apple Glen for the rest of that school year. The year came to a close, and we said our goodbyes. The second day of school in August of 1999, I found myself in a 5th grade classroom at Apple Glen. Little did I know that when February rolled around I would still be in that same classroom With a smile on his face, the man in the suit said, “It’s time for you to get your teaching license.” F ollowing his advice, I began the journey to become a lifelong learner. Looking back, I can honestly say he is the reason I am a teacher today. In 2000, I moved to Old High to teach 5th grade math and science. The next thing I knew, the lady on a mission said, “I need you to move to 6th grade to teach math.” After a year with sixth graders, I knew I had found my niche. In 2006, Ruth Hale Barker became my new home. Due to the fact that I am passionate about student learning and I am blessed to work in a district with wonderful educators, it became my goal to move into a position where I could provide support for teachers so that they could provide the best instruction possible. That brings me to where I am today.  My husband and I have two smart and independent children. Our daughter, Alee, is a third grader. She loves math, reading, and gymnastics. Our son, Nicholas, is quickly approaching four and never slows down. Needless to say, they keep us hopping.

If you ever need me and you can’t find me in the office, I would suggest you start looking in the classrooms somewhere in the district. If it’s a weekend then I am either on the floor with giggling children, in the flowerbed covered in dirt, or on the lake trying to out-fish my husband.