Ray Williams has been selected as the new Moberly Middle School principal. Williams will assume his new role with the Moberly School District later this summer when Wes Land assumes his new position as high school principal in Macon.

Before serving in his current role as assistant principal of Moberly High School, Williams was a classroom teacher for a decade. First a social studies teacher at William Chrisman High School, Williams later taught at Blue Springs Freshman Center and Lee’s Summit North High School. Williams was assistant wrestling coach at each of these high schools. Williams also served in several leadership roles while he was a teacher. He was Missouri State Teachers’ Association (MSTA) and Community Educators’ Association (CEA) representatives at Blue Springs School District, Building Level Diversity Leader, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Treasurer, also at Blue Springs.

An author and presenter, Williams co-wrote, “What does the movie 42 got to do, got to do with it?: Using RCID model in a psychology classroom,” a publication in the Oregon Journal of Social Studies; “Do You Got Game? Gamifying Your Classroom,” a presentation at Missouri Council for the Social Studies; “RCID: Culturally Responsive Teaching with Film,” a presentation at Missouri Council for the Social Studies; “You Mean I Have to Go to School,” a presentation at Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals; and “Teaching RCID using the film Malcolm X,” a national webinar for the National Council for the Social Studies.

Williams was awarded “Outstanding Beginning Teacher” from the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.