The Principal

Phone: (859) 381-2990

Email: joshua.williams@fayette.kyschools.us

Degrees and Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in social studies education, from Georgetown College

Master’s degree in education leadership and superintendent’s certification, from Eastern Kentucky University

Bachelor’s degree in social studies education, from Georgetown College Master’s degree in education leadership and superintendent’s certification, from Eastern Kentucky University

Josh Williams

Josh Williams, a former elementary principal who helped open Frederick Douglass High School in 2017 as head of the Freshman Academy, is the first principal of Brenda Cowan Elementary, the 37th elementary in Fayette County Public Schools. 

Williams started his career teaching world history and government at Lafayette High School. From there, he served a year as a principal intern in FCPS, shadowing other principals. He served for a year as director of students and student life at Madison Southern High School, a year as assistant principal at Camp Taylor Elementary, and four years as principal of Watson Lane Elementary School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Georgetown College and a master’s degree in education leadership as well as his superintendent’s certification from Eastern Kentucky University. He will complete his doctorate at EKU in 2019. 

“With this new elementary school, we really want to focus on infusing the arts into the curriculum and providing students with the opportunity to learn through the lens of arts,” Williams said. “Our goal will be to provide opportunities for students to learn in different ways – through movement, through expression, through sound and rhythm – so that they are able to verbally express and articulate the things that they’re doing and the things that they’re learning.” 

In his mind’s eye, Williams knows what he wants to see. “When you walk into our building, students will be actively engaged in the learning process,” he said. “We will incorporate the pillars of global competency, where students have the opportunity to explore the world around them and how they can understand and appreciate different points of view and different cultures. We want them to be prepared to act on what they see and to be able make a difference.” 

Josh and his wife, Meocha, who is Assistant Superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools, have two dogs named Simba and Dakota.