Michael R. Williams, Ed.D, NBCT

Dr. Michael R. Williams serves as Chief Human Resources Officer for Cabarrus County Schools in North Carolina, where he leads strategic initiatives focused on educator recruitment, retention, and growth, as well as employee relations and benefits. With more than 26 years of experience in public education, Dr. Williams has also served as Principal of an International Baccalaureate World School, district Curriculum Specialist, and Social Studies Teacher.

Throughout his career, Dr. Williams has been recognized for advancing student-centered leadership and supporting schools in creating environments where both students and educators thrive. As principal, his school ranked among the highest-performing in the state while dramatically expanding access to advanced coursework and the arts for historically underserved students. His leadership has earned honors including NCAEA Administrator of the Year (2019), Sandy Hook Promise Educator of the Year (2018), and NCMLE Educator to Watch (2009).

Dr. Williams holds a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where his research, rooted in phenomenology, examined leadership practices in successful schools serving marginalized communities. A National Board Certified Teacher, he also serves as an adjunct professor in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he helped create the award-winning, interdisciplinary Urban Youth and Communities minor that draws students from across colleges and departments. Presently, he is teaching courses in school leadership and helping to revision the College’s approach to principal preparation and the North Carolina Principal Preparation Assessment.