T O D A Y - Berwick Academy

Faculty Profi le: by Sophie Merrow ‘11
Kelly Williams
Upon entering my algebra classroom
one Wednesday afternoon, I noticed something very
different. There were no open notebooks, all tablets had
been put away, and there was not a calculator in sight.
Instead, the tables were covered with plastic cups filled
with lima beans and marshmallows, and each desk was
scattered with colorful paper and pencils. The already
cheery atmosphere of A period Algebra II had an edge
of excitement as my classmates exchanged wide grins
and high-fi ves. I knew what that meant.
Math Friends!
One Wednesday a month, each of Charlene
Hoyt’s Algebra II sections was given the privilege of
having math class with Kelly Williams’ kindergartners.
During these sessions, we participated in countless
math-related activities, helping our little math friends
understand the principles behind their current lesson
or unit. Make no mistake, the big math friends did lots
of learning as well; from the moment our little math
friends bounced through the door to the moment they
skipped back out, they were the teachers too. This is
thanks to the talent and hard work of Kelly Williams,
who combines her passion for education with a love
of children and a belief in lifelong learning. Her
tremendous qualities as a person and an educator make
her a truly precious part of the Lower School and the
BA community.
Ms. Williams, a Louisville, Kentucky, native
and University of New England graduate, has been
bringing her enthusiasm, talent, and spirit to Berwick
Academy for eleven out of her twenty years of teaching.
Prior to working at BA, she taught at a local pre-school
in Rollinsford, New Hampshire. Throughout her career
she has maintained the same teaching philosophy
of preparation infused with humor. “There’s that old
saying,” she says, “‘everything I ever needed to know I
learned in kindergarten.’ It’s sort of true! We teach our
students to always try their best and to have no fear! I
encourage them to be themselves, but also to learn how
to work together as part of a team.”
Ms. Williams approaches her favorite part of
the year, the castle unit, with her trademark sense of
humor, patience, and enthusiasm. During this unit,
the kindergartners learn about life in the Middle Ages,
build castles and catapults, have a medieval feast, and
get a visit from the Mysterious Knight. During one
Math Friends session, we were able to see how much
our little math friends had learned when they explained
the design of their catapult before expertly launching
marshmallows over the battlements of their castle.
The castle unit is just one of the many ways in which
Ms. Williams makes her students’ learning experiences
unique. “We do have a routine in the classroom,” she
explains, “but each day is new and different.
And not just for the kids. They teach me how
to better myself, adjust my teaching style, how
to reflect, and how to have patience!” Watching
her students interact has also been a learning
experience, she adds. “There are many views
and many right answers; it’s more the process
that we focus on. When they engage each other,
they use their imaginations and start a fl ow
of ideas, and it provides even more learning
opportunities.”
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Miss Williams makes an appearance as Zero the Hero during a math lesson.
These opportunities, Ms. Williams continues,
present themselves in every classroom activity.
She especially enjoys incorporating the arts into
the daily routine. “We try to do some sort of