Teaching, style, and service: Terrence Williams finds his calling

Teaching wasn’t part of Terrence Williams’s plan when he arrived at USCA. But a single conversation with a friend changed everything, setting him on a path that now impacts dozens of middle school students each day. Today, the Class of 2024 alumnus is blending his passion for education with creativity, leadership, and service to his community.

A Columbia, South Carolina native, Williams now teaches sixth-grade World History at E.E. Wright Middle School in the Richland School District One. In just his second year of teaching, he has already experienced both challenges and rewards in the classroom. “They moved a lot of people around, so now I’m with sixth graders. I’m just seeing how it goes,” he said with a laugh. Despite the adjustments, he’s found joy in connecting with students and helping them grow. “Seeing my students pass quizzes, turn in assignments, just doing things they never did before—it definitely inspires me.”

Passion for education, purpose in teaching

When Williams first enrolled at USCA, he wasn’t sure what direction to take. That changed after a friend suggested education. “I said, ‘I think I want to work with kids,’” he recalled with a smile. “Then it just stuck.”

Williams credits much of his professional development to the School of Education, which gave him early field experience and prepared him for the real-world demands of teaching. “They don’t sugarcoat it,” he said. “Student teaching is great, but once that classroom door closes and it’s just you, you’ve got to be ready. And I was.”

He credits USCA professors who guided him along the way, including Dr. Deborah McMurtrie, Dr. Judy Beck, Dr. Sarah King, and Dr. Michelle Rasheed, his student teaching supervisor.

Making learning engaging and inclusive

Williams uses creative, student-centered strategies to close achievement gaps, particularly in literacy. “I’m big on reading, but mainly students comprehending what they’re reading. I feel that’s one of the biggest problems that affects our students with lower achievement gaps.”

To support all learners, especially those with special education needs, Williams uses small-group instruction, Socratic seminars, debates, and interactive gallery walks. His guiding philosophy for lesson planning is simple: “If I were a student, would I want to come to class today based on this lesson? That’s how I decide.”

Beyond the classroom: fashion, fraternity, and future possibilities

Outside of teaching, Williams balances a part-time job at DTLR, a retail shoe store, while pursuing his passion for fashion content creation. Through his Instagram, he showcases his personal style and has begun collaborating with other creators, most recently during a two-week trip to Phoenix, Arizona, over the summer. “It’s starting to take off more than I thought it would,” he said. “Balancing it with teaching is hard, but I’m making it work.”

Williams is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., having joined the Hartsville, SC, Alumni Chapter during his first year of teaching. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” he said about pledging while working full-time. “But it made me stronger. The networking has been incredible, you never know who you’re talking to, and it’s opened a lot of doors.”

Words of wisdom

When asked what advice he would give to future education majors or students interested in teaching, Williams doesn’t hesitate: “Make sure your heart is in it. It’s not enough to just say you want to teach; you must show up every day, even when it’s hard. And get experience. Work in a school, be a mentor, substitute, whatever you can do. The more experience, the better.”

With a passion for education, a love for history, and a creative spirit that refuses to be boxed in, Williams continues to explore where life will take him next. “Right now, I feel like teaching is what I’m supposed to be doing, but who knows what next year will bring?”

While Williams doesn’t know exactly where the future will take him, he’s certain of one thing: the lessons he’s learning—both in and out of the classroom—will guide the way to a career defined by purpose, creativity, and impact.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.