DeKalb County principal still in demand years after retirement

He’s finished the last three school years at schools in the district after a principal position was vacated for some reason. The Lakeside High assignment was unique: Former principal Jason Clyne was removed from the school after making disparaging comments to custodial staff, saying at one point he was “master of this plantation.”

Regional Superintendent Trenton Arnold said he needed someone with a unique skill set to come in and ease the concerns of the staff, students and parents after Clyne’s departure.

“When I was looking for someone to come in and stabilize Lakeside, without a doubt (Williams) was the first one that came to mind,” Arnold said.

Williams said he set out in his first few days in the school to settle any nerves, talking with students and teachers, learning the names of those he didn’t already know. It’s a tactic that has served him well his entire career.

“Most of the concerns they want addressed, at least I can have a decent enough conversation with them that makes them feel comfortable,” he said. “The main thing was settling the mind of the parents … that education is still going on here.”

When Williams retired, it was to spend more time with his family, which includes his wife, two children and two grandchildren. Immediately, there were several family trips, manning the grill for cookouts, visiting more with his parents, who are still alive.

In 2007, Williams’ wife, who works for Atlanta Public Schools, was leaving for a conference and needed a substitute for a week. She didn’t trust too many people with her class. She asked Robert if he would sub in her place.

He did it, for her. After she returned, more offers came for his services.

“Once you’re on the sub list, your phone is going to ring off the hook,” he said. “I was in classrooms in every school in Atlanta. It was nice. It got me out of the house again, got my juices flowing.”

Soon, Fulton County started a list of administrative substitutes. He signed up for that, too. When DeKalb County started a list of administrative substitutes, Williams’ name was one of the first on the list.

He served as principal at Champion from April to June 2014, then jumped to Stone Mountain High from June to October. He subbed at Henderson Middle School from December 2014 to June 2015.

The list of administrative substitutes comes in handy when the top job at a school suddenly becomes available, Superintendent Steve Green said.

“It’s another resource, or tool in the toolbox, that’s proactive rather than reactive,” he said. “It’s a pool you can draw upon in a moment of need … so you don’t miss a beat in the process.”

Williams, Green said, is a familiar face who eases anxiety in difficult situations — exactly what Lakeside needed.

“He was the right person for Lakeside at that time,” Green said.

Williams says his method is simple: learn the people so they feel comfortable. He often saunters into the cafeteria around lunch time, sitting at a table to interact with the students.

“I can call names just walking down the hallway,” he said. “My big thing when I walk into a school is how fast will I learn students by their name, learn teachers by their name, be seen frequently.”

He’s the type of person everybody likes, Arnold said.

“It’s important that we get strong leaders” for the substitute administrator roles, Arnold said. “Mr. Williams is just a great communicator and a generally likable individual. It’s like immediately he’s your best friend. And I learn things from him every day.”