Candidate for
Board Member; Cincinnati City School District

Rick Williams

Cincinnati Public School Board Candidate

Rick Williams believes that economic stability comes from a strong and thriving community, and striving communities are sustained by excellent schools. A Cincinnati Public Schools school board member since 1999 and president and CEO of the Homeownership Center, Rick's passion for quality education and available home ownership provide a catalyst for a strong Cincinnati.

Williams was first appointed to the CPS board to complete a term created by Virginia Griffin. He was successfully returned to his seat for two additional terms and is seeking support for his third term on the board. Because of his excellent communication and facilitation skills, Rick was elected as board president for three consecutive terms, an unprecedented event in recent school board history.

He served as a member of the Finance Committee and chair of the Public Engagement and Partnership Committee where he was instrumental in facilitating the first joint meeting of CPS and City Council. Together with Chris Monzell, Rick developed and chaired the city's recent Child Safety Summit that provided a toolkit and resources to community councils for the creation of child safety plans.

It is no surprise that Rick is committed to improving CPS schools and revitalizing his community. Williams is a lifetime Cincinnatian and proud graduate of Woodward High Schools. His parents, Dr. Obadiah Williams and the late Edith Williams, were both educators and administrators in the public school system.

Rick Williams' record speaks for itself. He has vigorously fought to right size the district, hire a program manager for the billion dollar facilities master plan, implement pay tied to student achievement and provide the public with accurate and timely information. Fiscal transparency and accountability, public engagement, and effective administrative oversight are pillars of change and Rick's primary issues for the board.

In addition, Rick Williams has had extensive experience building strong communities. He received a BFA in Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters of Community Planning from University of Cincinnati. As president and CEO of the Homeownership Center, Rick manages an annual budget in excess of $1.2 million dollars to provide educational programs and financial support to promote home ownership. Collaboration with Congress, state, county, and city government, and lending institutions allows the Home Ownership Center to serve deserving families and fortify neighborhoods.

Over the years, Mr. Williams has received numerous awards and recognition for his work in schools and communities including the Baptist Ministers Award, the Estelle Berman Planning Award and service recognition as CPS school Board President. Rick attends Crossroads Community Church and enjoys rehabbing his historic home in Avondale.