Kayann Williams

Primary Interest Area: Education Law

1. What is your background?
I was born in Jamaica and re-located to the United States when I was 12. As an undergraduate at the University of Rochester, I majored in political science with a minor in African & African-American studies. I served as a tutor and mentor in high school and college. I worked with Project Care at the University of Rochester where I dedicated four hours a week to assisting students who struggled academically in the Rochester City School District. I also have completed different courses in educational policy that have opened up my understanding about policies and how they influence the educational structure.

2. Why did you decide to pursue a master’s in educational policy?
I have always been very interested in education; I believe that it’s the foundation for anything that a person aspires to do.  My ultimate goal is to have a profound impact on the lives of different people. This is one of my motivations for pursuing a degree in educational policy. I felt that this direction offered me the opportunity to significantly change and improve the educational system that serves the needs of students from many diverse backgrounds.

3. What most attracted you to the Warner School?
Prior to pursuing the master’s program in educational policy, I did not have a great deal of  insight about what it entailed. After speaking with my advisor, who informed me about the program, I did some research of my own and I fell in love with it. I felt that it would give me a better understanding of the educational system and the policies that govern the way schools are operated. It was very interesting to me, and having a political science background the program offered me an opportunity to explore something new and exciting. The educational policy faculty are very informative and have guided me in pursuing my degree. They are very helpful and supportive and that made me very comfortable to approach them about any issue that I had or needed help with.

4. What are some of your favorite class(es) that you’ve taken at Warner?  Why?
All of the classes in the educational policy program offered me a new perspective on education and educational policy as a whole.  They were effective in helping me understand the structure underlying educational policy and the U.S educational system. One of my favorite classes that I've taken at Warner is Finance in K-12 Schools. I learned a great deal about how schools are funded, how taxes work, and the overall benefits of education. One fundamental concept I took away from this course was in regards to equity. Dr. Brent was influential in outlining that, "Equity means fair, not equal," and I think that is very important for people to understand. This class strengthened my understanding of the educational system and how schools function.

Contemporary Issues in Education Policy was also a phenomenal class. Coming from a political science background, this class increased my awareness about the policy issues affecting education.  Important topics such as charter schools, vouchers, mayoral control, and teacher quality were addressed, which sparked discussion and my overall understanding of these issues. I really enjoyed this class and the topics that were covered throughout the semester.

5. What are you doing for your field project and how do you think it will benefit you?
I’m doing my field research project at Empire Justice.  I have a strong interest in both education and law, and I am working with a mentor who specializes in education law which has been very rewarding and informative. The educational policy issue that I am examining focuses on the overall effects of race and poverty concentration in the Rochester City School District. I hope to uncover the changes that have been made to the educational system that is currently serving students in the Districts and gain a better understanding of race and poverty concentration in urban areas and how that can influence urban education overall.

6. What are you interested in doing after graduation?
Upon graduation, I hope to pursue a career in educational policy or law. I am currently pursuing a job as a policy analyst, research analyst, or political analyst. All these jobs would expose me to the areas that I am most interested in and they would offer me the best opportunity to fulfill my dreams.