By: Tracie Carter
Family, friends and the Newark West Ward community are mourning the death of a beloved principal who made notable changes to a high school in that portion of the city.
Mr. Fernard Williams died Tuesday morning from complications of an unspecified illness. He was 76.
According to The New York Times, Mr. Williams was a former Marine and Newark police officer, who also graduated from West Side High, loved the school and spent his last days of public employment leading the effective revitalization of the historic building.
Initial public records showed that Williams worked as a substance abuse awareness counselor at West Side High School before becoming a vice-principal at Weequahic High School in the city's South Ward.
In an effort to bring an influential climate, good culture and revitalize a decline in academic effectiveness to the school, Williams returned and was appointed by the late State-appointed Superintendent Beverly Hall to lead the educational facility out of its hardships.
The Chief Executive Officer of Metro Media Associates of NJ, which is the parent company of RLS Metro Breaking News, was a 1994 graduate of West Side High School. He warmly remembered Mr. Williams.
"I highly respected Mr. Williams' leadership during my time at West Side High School as a vice-principal who later became principal, after I graduated from the school." -Richard L. Smith
"Mr. Wiliams (a Roughrider forever) was a great man who rendered strong leadership and was a role model to many of us males, cared for the school. I am sending prayers to his family and everyone who knew and loved him," Smith said.
When he was appointed principal in 1997, West Side was one of the worst schools in the city.
The physical changes now are dramatic. Inside and out, it is immaculate, and Mr. Williams is even growing grass on the long-barren front lawn.
There are changes in attitude too. Mr. Williams got rid of some teachers and other staff members. He had a new curriculum idea, The New York Times said in a 1999 article.
West Ward community leader Mr. Lyndon Brown said the following in a statement:
"RIP to Retired West Side High School Principal Fernard Williams. Thank you for your service to our community.
You instilled discipline and respect in a lot of teens. Your dedication will long be remembered by the students whose lives you touched.
May your wings soar high!"
Today, West Side High School is better because of the strong leadership of Mr. Fernard Wiliams and the current building administration, who has guided the school into a new path of greatness.
Funeral arrangements for Williams have not been announced at this time.