Mary Jane Williams, a seventh-grade language arts teacher, is the Haywood Junior High School Teacher of the Year. She has 28 years’ teaching experience, 25 of them at HJH. Mrs. Williams attended the University of Mississippi and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lambuth University in 1973. She earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Memphis and 45 hours above masters from Bethel College and Union University. In addition to teaching seventh grade, Mrs. Williams has also taught eighth grade. She also taught music at Sunny Hill School one year. Mrs. Williams has been a member of Alpha Delta Kappa professional teachers’ sorority since 1987 and has served in leadership positions during her membership. This year she has participated in Common Core training and on the Superintendent’s Leadership Council. She has also been a New Teacher Mentor 3 years, and on a number of committees throughout her teaching career.

Mrs. Williams was selected as Teacher of the Year in 2006 and in 1994. In the community, she is a member of the Ninth Review Club, the Wednesday Morning Musicale and Allen Baptist Church. A long-time accomplished musician, Mrs. Williams has served as pianist and organist at Allen Baptist, as well as in many other capacities. She was also chosen as the Educator of the Year at the annual Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Banquet in January 2012.