Chattanooga, TN – This Principals Appreciation Month, Hamilton County Schools proudly recognizes Rashaad Williams, principal of Tyner Middle High Academy. With 25 years in education, Williams has built his career around creating opportunities for students, listening to their voices, and ensuring they have the support they need to succeed.
A Chattanooga native and graduate of Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts, Williams continued his education at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he earned his master’s degree. He later completed an Ed.S. at Tennessee Tech and is currently pursuing his doctorate at Trevecca Nazarene University.
Williams began his career at Tyner as an English teacher, spending 10 years in the classroom before transitioning into school leadership as dean of students. He went on to serve in leadership positions at Orchard Knob Middle, Red Bank High, Brown Middle, Brainerd High, Hixson High, and Dalewood Middle before returning to Tyner. His return brought years of leadership experience back to the school where his career began.
His commitment to education extends beyond Tyner. Williams began serving on the Hamilton County Principals Association board in 2022 and served as president during the 2025–26 school year. In that role, he worked to strengthen principals’ voices at the local and state levels, bringing school leaders together to meet with legislators and advocate for students and educators. He also previously served on the board of the Tennessee Principals Association.
At Tyner, Williams brings that same commitment to listening and advocacy to his daily leadership. He seeks input from students, teachers, and families, using their feedback to make decisions that support student learning and the school community.
“I try to be a student-centered,” Williams said.
“I try to make my decisions based upon students being in the center of what we’re doing.”
That focus is reflected in Tyner’s academic goals. The school works to ensure every senior graduates prepared for the next step, whether through college enrollment, military service, employment, or an apprenticeship. Last year, 100% of Tyner’s senior class graduated with one of those pathways in place.
The school has also expanded academic opportunities. Advanced Placement course offerings have more than tripled, as have dual-enrollment offerings through partnerships with Chattanooga State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. At the middle school level, an honors track helps students prepare for the academic expectations of high school.
“We’ve really done some work around trajectory alignment of all content areas from sixth to 12th grade,” Williams said. “So that when a student starts in sixth grade, they’re prepared for what we do for teaching and learning here at Tyner.”
For Williams, preparing students for the future means more than helping them succeed academically. It also means ensuring they feel connected, supported, and confident in what they can accomplish.
During a recent RTI²-B walkthrough, every student interviewed identified an adult at Tyner they felt they could turn to for support. For Williams, that connection is essential to a school’s success.
“We talk about if a student comes here and they don’t have one person they can reach out to who’s an adult in our building, we have failed,” Williams said. “Kids don’t want to be around folks that they know don’t love them.”
That belief shapes a school culture where students know the adults around them are invested in their success. Williams credits Tyner’s faculty and staff for embracing that commitment and helping students recognize their potential.
“We have some phenomenal faculty members and staff who believe in going all in for kids in our building,” Williams said. “Kids know we care. And that care means we’re going to go all in for you.”
He recently saw that commitment in action during a college visit, when a student expressed concern about getting into the college she hoped to attend. Williams talked through her options and connected her with the school’s college support staff.
For Williams, moments like these reflect the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
“I can go to bed at night knowing that I think I’ve left my mark in trying to ensure that this world could be a better place because of what I’ve tried to instill in kids,” he said.
That sense of connection extends throughout the Tyner community. Williams said families consistently show up for students, from athletic events and National Beta and Honor Society inductions to theater performances.
Community partners have also embraced Tyner’s vision, contributing time, resources, and financial support. Those partners include the City of Chattanooga, EPB, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chambliss Center for Children, Woodland Park Baptist Church, and OnPoint to name a few.
“They really have bought into our vision,” Williams said. “Not only do they show up in person, have contributed financially, but they also volunteer.
As he looks ahead, Williams is focused on continued academic growth and achievement, stronger ACT performance, increased college enrollment and scholarship opportunities, and success across Tyner’s athletic and creative programs.
For Williams, those goals share a common purpose: helping students discover their potential, surrounding them with people who care, and preparing them for what comes next.
As we honor Principal Rashaad Williams during Principals Appreciation Month, we celebrate his years of service, his investment in the Tyner community, and his commitment to ensuring every student has the support and opportunities to thrive.
Thank you, Principal Williams, for all you do!
