Dr. Samuel Williams Jr., a longtime Chicago Public Schools administrator, focused his efforts on helping special education students get the best instruction they could.
In addition to teaching many years, he served as a special education coordinator, supporting teachers and assigning students to the most optimal services for their needs.
“He had a gift for knowing where to put them to learn best,” said his wife, Sandra.
Mr. Williams, 52, died Saturday, Aug. 14, in El Paso, Texas, of a heart attack while visiting relatives.
He graduated Harlan High School in 1970 and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Chicago State University in 1973. He began working as an English and social studies teacher for special education children at Wendell Phillips High School and decided then to dedicate his career to their needs, said Dr. Larry J. Thomas, his cousin and a Chicago public school principal.
“He felt every boy and girl should be given the opportunity to excel and do whatever they wanted to do,” his cousin said. “He always said, `go for the gusto.'”
After 13 years at Wendell Phillips, he went to administration as a liaison, and became an assistant principal in 1993.
Other districts would call him for information on new policies for special education children, and he was considered a guru in the subject, his cousin said.
He earned master’s degrees in special education and education administration in 1981 and 1990 from Chicago State. He earned a PhD in educational leadership at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in 1998. He met his wife, also a special education teacher, in 1973 and they married in 1975.
Mr. Williams was handpicked by former Chicago schools chief Paul Vallas to be principal at Englewood Technical Preparatory Academy in 1997, where he led efforts to reform the school’s curricula and faculty, his cousin said.
“They wanted someone who could motivate and attract new people,” Thomas said.
Mr. Williams was invited to appear with President Bill Clinton at the White House when the Englewood area received a multimillion-dollar grant for redevelopment. He brought a number of students with him, his wife said.
In 2000 he went back to administering special education services, then served briefly as acting principal at Wendell Phillips. He retired in 2003 and moved to Alabama, away from the harsh Chicago winters for his health, his cousin said.
Mr. Williams was a 37-year member of the First Unity Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago. He was on the Deacon Board and Ushers Board, speaking at church programs and helping people into the church.
Besides his wife, survivors include a son, Samuel III; a daughter, Danielle; three stepdaughters, Yolanda, Sharen and Marquita and five grandchildren.
Funeral services have been held.
