CEO and founder of The Joyful Collaborative, LLC, Dr. Avis Williams, is a passionate leader and educator from humble roots. Her core values are EQUITY, EXCELLENCE and JOY. A native of Salisbury, NC and a product of poverty, Williams dreamed of being a teacher from an early age. As a first generation 4-year college student, she followed the path of her older siblings and joined the Army right after high school.

After four years in the Army, she worked full-time as a personal trainer while putting herself through community college and earned her undergraduate degree from Athens State University. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Alabama A&M and Jacksonville State Universities, education specialist degree and her doctorate from the University of Alabama. Dr. Williams has taught English, Physical Education, coached dance team and track, served as an elementary, middle, and high school principal and led curriculum and instruction as a deputy superintendent. More recently she served for five years as the superintendent of Historic Selma, AL and is the first woman to permanently serve as superintendent of the NOLA Public Schools in New Orleans.