Her Story
About Jenise
Jenise Williams serves as Director of Outreach and Alliances for Teach for America Detroit. She began her involvement with the organization in 2017 as a campus ambassador while attending the University of Michigan, later joining the corps to teach for four years from 2018 to 2022, including time as an Early Career Educator Fellow. In 2022 she transitioned to the regional team full time after helping launch the Teach Michigan initiative. Williams earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and her M.Ed in education leadership and policy in 2021, and she is certified to teach in the state of Michigan. Beyond her professional role she is president of the Detroit Institute of Arts Young Professional Board of Directors, also known as the Founders Junior Council, where she helps host the Bash Bash fundraiser and supports the museum's art collection. A third-generation Detroit educator, Williams credits her parents and grandmother with instilling values of education as a right and the importance of giving back to the community through servant leadership.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jenise
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from my parents and grandmother who taught me the importance of education as a right I had to fight for and always giving back to my community no matter how little or much I have. These belief systems modeled through servant leadership are my core inspiration and drive my own leadership philosophy. I am a third generation Detroit educator.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Leadership is stewardship not ownership. Your title is rented but your leadership style philosophy and how you lead are what you own. Be mindful of that and build relationships as you go.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Give yourself grace because we no longer live in an economy where you decide what you'll do for the rest of your life at a young age. Build your own board of directors with people at different stages of their careers to consult with confide in and vent to. As you get more established focus on lifting as you climb.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
K-12 education has nuanced complexities around teacher staffing retention compensation evaluations and supporting continuous learning. The industry offers many pathways from teaching to principal to nonprofit to foundations so navigating your own path while approaching issues from multiple lenses is key.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community and being a good steward of community are the through line. Relationship building strategic thinking and being a lifelong learner with continuous learning and improvement.
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