By Anna Kate Doiron | The Vicksburg Post

 

Chris Williams’ new job as Porter’s Chapel Academy’s head of school is “like a glove that just fits.”

“Here at Porter’s Chapel Academy I get to combine the two things that I love the most: it’s telling people about the Lord Jesus Christ and working with God’s children,” Williams said.

Williams, who also serves as the pastor of Wayside Baptist Church, said he incorporates his faith into the school in any way he can.

Although he grew up in Vicksburg, Williams never stepped foot onto PCA’s campus until December when he went to enroll his son. He “felt a tug” toward the school after being informed of the opening of the head of school position.

“The Lord just opened the door for me to come here as well,” Williams said.

Williams is not the only member of his family who joined the ‘PCA family of faith’ as he calls it. His wife, Jennifer, will be a teacher, and his son, Bridges, is now a student. Williams’ oldest son, Brantly, graduated from River City Early College in May.

“The whole family jumped in feet first,” Williams said.

Williams has his Masters in Education and his Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership. He spent 13 years working for the Vicksburg Warren School District, four of those  as principal of Warren Central Junior High.

Williams has something great to say about every school in Vicksburg, but right now he is focused on “a total revival at Porter’s Chapel Academy.”

At the start of his job he said he asked himself, “What’s broken, and what needs to be fixed?”

He started by incorporating technology and enabling PCA as a ‘Google school’. Each junior and senior will receive a Google Chromebook to complete their assignments.

These changes are efforts to improve students’ readiness for college. The curriculum is also being improved, and there will be a mandatory ACT Prep class. Williams has brought in numerous new members to the faculty and staff to help implement these strategies.

Williams hopes for the school to provide knowledge of Christ, an unparalleled education, and the opportunity to participate — whether it be sports, clubs or in the classroom.

Williams’ time at PCA has been “absolutely wonderful” so far, despite the unusual conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was very impressed by how the faculty handled the switch to online learning when schools were closed due to the outbreak.

He said the school is staying prayerful and taking it one day at a time when it comes to planning for the upcoming year. Each day brings new guidelines for how to handle COVID-19, but Williams still has high hopes for the future of PCA.

“The people here I have to work with are absolutely wonderful, and it’s like a breath of fresh air, to be honest with you,” Williams said.

The school plans to start classes on Aug. 10. Williams said capacity in each classroom is limited and hallway traffic will be monitored. Masks will be required when students are in close quarters.

 

Anna Kate Doiron is an intern for The Vicksburg Post and Vicksburg Living. Anna Kate is a graduate of St. Aloysius and currently a student at the University of Mississippi.