‘Phenomenal’ dean of East High School retires

By Harold Gwin

YOUNGSTOWN — She’s been called “phenomenal,” “devoted,” “committed” and someone whose departure will leave a big gap to fill when she leaves her post as principal/dean of Youngstown’s East High School next month.

Henrietta Williams is retiring after 35 years of service to the city schools.

To say she will be missed “is an understatement,” said Superintendent Wendy Webb. Williams has always demonstrated “full commitment and passion for the children of this community,” she said.

“Ms. Williams is a devoted, caring teacher and administrator, one who gives her ‘babies’ consistent love, even when it’s the tough variety,” said Manfred Michalski, a special needs teacher at East.

“When these same students visit her after graduation, they often comment on how clearly she had explained the choices to be made, how she emphasized ownership and how wonderful it was that they had the opportunity for free education,” he said.

“I never thought I was doing anything great. I just always looked for ways to get my kids interested in the classroom,” Williams said, giving credit to staff, students and their parents.

“If we succeeded, the credit goes to them,” she said.

“I’ve never had anybody tell me no when I asked them for something, and I was willing to roll up my sleeves and jump in,” she said.

She is a hometown girl, a graduate of North High School (“I’m a North Bulldog,” she admits), which closed in the late 1970s, and a graduate of Youngstown State University.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.