Russ Williams
Use the past to talk about the present.
Use the past to talk about the present.
About ME
With over 20 years of experience in education, I have a strong background in AP and IBDP social studies programs and have served as department chair in multiple schools worldwide for over a decade. As a historian, I am particularly interested in the relationship between the Civil Rights Movement and American foreign policy. Additionally, I oversee my school's summer program, managing a team of 30 staff members who serve over 250 students each year. My wife, Monica, is a secondary English teacher and librarian. Together, we are proud parents of Turner, an 8th grader, and Ryan, a 2nd grader.
Teaching Experience
Korea International School
Seongnam, South Korea 2018-Present
Summer Program Principal
Social Studies Department Chair
AP US History and AP World History
Contributions
- Responsible for the programming, hiring, and supervision of a K-10 summer program for 250+ students and +25 staff
- Department head since 2019
- Domain chair for CIS accreditation and member of Risk Management Committee and Club Mentorship Team
- Designed summer enrichment courses "A Brief History of Pandemics" and "A Brief History of Immigration to the US"
- Founding coach of our MS Quiz Bowl team and actively promote NAQT in Korea
- NHD Korea Teacher of the Year 2023 (Senior Division)
- Led teacher workshops on Peardeck, Feedback Studio, and Asian American history
Lausanne Collegiate School
Memphis, Tennessee 2011-2018
Social Studies Department Chair
IB History HL, AP US History, IB Theory of Knowledge, Ancient and Modern World History
Contributions:
- Led department in the transition to a full IBDP and MYP centered curriculum.
- Designed semester elective "A History of Memphis"
- As director of the Chapman-Woodbury Oral history program, I expanded the program from a small niche project to one with more than 100 participants each year and reoriented its focus to the Memphis Civil Rights Movement.
- Coached History Bowl, Knowledge Bowl, and MS Boys Soccer
The American School of Kuwait
Hawalli, Kuwait 2007-2011
Social Studies Department Chair
AP US History and 6th Grade Social Studies
6th Grade Coordinator and MS Boys Soccer CoachThomas Jefferson Classical Academy
Mooresboro, North Carolina 2003-2005
HS and MS World History
HS and MS Soccer Coach
Burns High School
Lawndale, North Carolina 2002-2003
Reading teacher and coach of men’s and women’s varsity soccer teams
Led men's team to best season in school history
PEDAGOGY
History is an eminently practical subject, offering an excellent foundation for logical thinking and argumentation. Students can apply their knowledge of history across various academic fields, enhancing their analytical skills and broadening their intellectual horizons. Understanding history also provides a significant advantage in debates and discussions, whether at the dinner table or dorm room. It helps students contextualize the dizzying 24-hour news cycle, allowing them to take a longer view and better comprehend current events. With a grounding in history, students gain confidence and a sense of authority, as the changes unfolding before them will seem less random or unpredictable. Studying history clarifies the present.
A strong background in history is also crucial to developing empathy and promoting civic engagement. Historically-minded individuals learn to look beyond the surface and interrogate their assumptions, fostering connections and affinity with others. They also understand that socially responsible actions must come from a well-informed position. History is not just an academic subject but a vital tool for understanding and standing up for what is right.
Leadership
Though I have served as department chair in several different situations, three priorities have always been key for me: increasing the focus on document-based activities, improving the vertical alignment in writing standards, and ensuring our students see themselves in the curriculum. Moving forward, I am committed to working at schools that share this vision for rigorous, inclusive, and well-structured education.
In addition to being a leader in my curriculum area, I am always seeking professional challenges, and my role as Summer Program Principal has been particularly impactful. I work closely with teachers and the business office to manage programming, staffing, marketing, purchasing, and enrollment, all while ensuring the safety and success of our students.
I lead with empathy and a focus on collaboration, working to help students, families, and teachers reach their full potential. By paying close attention to detail, I ensure that the programs I develop are effective and sustainable, bringing together key stakeholders. I also believe education is the foundation for social and economic mobility. As a result, I am dedicated to joining institutions that build robust systems to positively impact communities for the long run.
“ History is an essential piece of the design thinking process. It provides the context and background that makes empathy possible "
Russ Williams
Professional Development
Restorative Practices for Educators, September 2024
Multi-day training offered by the National Center for Restorative Justice
WLSA Global Educators Conference, June 2024
Multi-day conference on the future of AI in education hosted by NYU Shanghai.
ICPA Advanced International Child Protection Training, April 2024
Multi-day course on evaluating and enhancing school-wide safeguarding practices.
Principals' Training Center, Summer 2023
Earned my certification in International School Leadership.
CIS Accreditation Evaluator Training, November 2022
Four week course offered by the Council of International Schools.
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, May 2021
Workshop on helping international school students develop a healthy cultural identity. Led by Dr. Josephine Kim, senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
The United States and Korea in the 20th Century, Summer 2019
Multi-day teacher seminar with Dr. Greg Brazinsky through the Gilder-Lehrman Institute for American History at the University of Washington. I attended a seminar on American Foreign Policy Since 1898 with Dr. Jeremy Suri at the UT Austin in 2012.
AP US History Reader 2012-2018
Scored the LEQ, DBQ, and SAQ at in-person readings in both Louisville, KY and Tampa, FL
IB Diploma Senior Examiner and Team Leader 2012-2018
Scored student scripts for IB History of the Americas Paper 3
Supervised teams of 8 other examiners; guided examiners through the qualification and process and provided next steps on requalification process when necessary“ Working as a historian is a way to learn both about yourself and those around you; to really know someone is to know their history and to be bonded or connected with another person is to have a history together. Thinking like a historian teaches you to find connections with others. "
Russ Williams
Education
Clemson University
2005-2007
MA in History
Thesis: "Major Shifts in US-Pakistan Relations 1947-1982"
Full scholarship and stipend
Assistant grader for Western Civilization courses
Awarded grant for thesis research at the National Archives and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library; Fall 2006
Awarded FLAS Fellowship for the study of Urdu, University of Wisconsin; Summer 2006
Gardner-Webb University
1998-2001
BA in History
© 2019