12 Aug ‘Action Is About Support’: New AUSD Superintendent Meets the Community

New superintendent Darnise Williams discussed her vision for the Antioch Unified School District at an Aug. 2 meet-and-greet.

Story and photos by Emily Molina

Students and parents in the Antioch Unified School District are beginning the school year under the leadership of newly appointed superintendent Dr. Darnise Williams, whose arrival has brought both hope and high expectations

Williams was formally welcomed during a recent meet-and-greet hosted by the East Contra Costa County NAACP and Delta Bay Community Church, where it was held Aug. 2. The event provided residents and AUSD leaders with an opportunity to connect with the new superintendent and hear her vision for the future of the district.

With decades of experience as a California educator, Williams brings both expertise and personal insight to the role.  As a Black woman raised in an education-rich family, she offers a perspective that reflects AUSD’s diverse student body, which is 36% Black and 50% Hispanic.

As she prepares to lead the district, Williams said her leadership would center on student empowerment and integrity in education.

“My commitment to Antioch is strong,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do, and action is about support.”

In her remarks, Williams addressed her desire to improve the education of the school district and bring integrity to the educational services that meet the needs of AUSD students.

The superintendent steps into a district facing deep challenges, such as low student performance in math and English, and staff frustrations resulting from the previous superintendent, Stephanie Anello, who was fired last year due to mishandling staff complaints.

“You have a large apple to get at,” said East Contra Costa NAACP president Dr. Kimberly Payton, addressing Williams. A former parent in the district and the president of the NAACP chapter that supports families in East County, Payton said that parents have been left frustrated by the challenges students face in their education readiness.

“Our families here in Antioch have been victims of the lack of integrity, the lack of love,” she said. “I ask you to take into consideration that parents of AUSD have made the ultimate sacrifice, and the ‘give and take’ is you.”

In the 2023-2024 school year assessment, nearly 62% of Black students in AUSD were not proficient in English, and about 74% were not proficient in math.

Black students in the district face greater educational barriers, including being absent more than other student groups and being three times as likely to be suspended as other students.

“These numbers are personal,” said one Antioch resident during the meeting, who then gave Williams recommendations on incorporating more parent engagement in her tenure. The resident suggested more opportunities where parents and teachers could work together to support the needs of their students.

“I look at those numbers and [they] keep me up too,” said Williams. “But those numbers tell a story; there are layers to this game.”

The superintendent acknowledged that she can’t reduce these numbers or solve the district’s issues overnight, but she emphasized the importance of collaboration among educators, families and district leadership.

“It’s an exciting new chapter, but a challenging one,” said Williams. “But challenges bring opportunity for growth.”