Tima Williams began as principal of Asheville Primary School in July 2020. Ms. Williams returned to lead Western North Carolina’s first public Montessori school, which, as their 2017-2018 Innovation Coordinator, she helped establish alongside former APS Principal Dawn Meskil.  

 An outstanding educator with more than 23 years of experience spanning everything from preschool to college, she began her career as an Exceptional Children’s teacher in McDowell County.  An outstanding educator, Williams was even named McDowell County’s 2009 Teacher of Excellence.  After 17 years in the classroom, Williams began her tenure with Asheville City Schools in 2013 as a District Math Coach.  For two years, she developed and presented school-based, district and state level professional development that increased teacher content knowledge and best practices in an effort to strengthen high quality core instruction for all learners.  Williams also has experience as an Asheville City Schools’ District Curriculum Specialist and adjunct faculty member at McDowell Technical Community College. Williams served as Isaac Dickson Elementary School’s assistant principal for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years.

Williams earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Learning Disabilities K-12 with minors in Psychology and Art from Appalachian State University as well as a Master’s Degree in Executive Leadership from Western Carolina University.  Williams is Nationally Board Certified in Exceptional Needs and holds K-12 Academically and Intellectually Gifted Certification.  She was also selected as Western Carolina University’s 2017 Courageous Leader Award Winner and is a 2018 alumna of Montessori Live’s Administrative Leadership Program. 

In her spare time, Ms. Williams loves creating art, traveling, hiking, and spending time with family. Ms. Williams is a single mom of two teenage daughters and LOTS of pets.  She has a passion for connecting individuals who can share their strengths to achieve great things and says “helping others is what makes [me] happy!”