By Ken Downey | Correspondent

Michele Williams has been involved in Catholic education for most of her adult life, and whether it was as parish director of religious education or in a Catholic school setting, the ministry is something she has found to be “life giving.”

As Williams enters retirement after 14 years as principal of St. Joseph School, Toms River, she speaks of the “joy that you get from sharing faith with children that energizes you and invigorates you.”

“Being at St. Joseph Grade School has been the honor of my career,” Williams said. “I’m so blessed to have had that opportunity to shape so many lives, along with my colleagues at St. Joseph’s.”

Williams was born and raised in Jersey City and attended Catholic elementary and secondary schools. Upon her graduation from Jersey City State College, she began her education career in a Jersey City Catholic school, where she remained for 10 years, teaching eighth grade before being promoted to vice principal.

Upon moving to Toms River, Williams pursued a master’s degree in theology in La Salle University, Philadelphia, and was working in the Toms River school district until a position became available in the religious education department in St. Justin the Martyr Parish, Toms River, where she went on to become religious education director.

After seven years in St. Justin the Martyr, Williams ventured into the Catholic school setting when she was named principal of St. Aloysius School, Jackson. After time in St. Aloysius School, where she oversaw the establishment of a middle school and the school’s first graduating class, an opportunity arose for her to become principal of St. Joseph School – something she saw as a blessing, since it was where her own children were enrolled.

Becoming principal of St. Joseph School, she said, “was the greatest thing in the world.”

In St. Joseph School, Williams oversaw advancements in technology such as making the entire school wireless and ensuring that every teacher was provided with an iPad or a laptop. She also established a Pre-K program, a social emotional learning program, created a STEM (Science, Technology, English, Math) lab this past year and was proud to see Johns Hopkins recognize St. Joseph School as a Top 10 school in the state. She added that in the fall, St. Joseph School will be designated a STEM school.

Though Williams’ immediate retirement plans include spending the summer at the beach with no definite plans for the fall, she is confident God will lead her to her next adventure.

“God brought me to the Catholic Schools,” Williams said. “God led me there, and he’ll lead me now.”