JOSEPH J. WILLIAMS
Chicago
Summary
Dynamic educational leader with a proven track record at Legal Prep Charter Academies, excelling in youth and family engagement and program management. Achieved a 98% reduction in suspensions through restorative practices, while securing significant grants to enhance student opportunities. Skilled in building community partnerships and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Founding Principal - Indianapolis Campus
Legal Prep Charter Academy
Indianapolis
01.2023 - Current
- Lead the launch of Legal Prep's new 6-12 charter academy while maintaining principal leadership at the Chicago campus.
- Secured a $2 million Charter School Program (CSP) Grant, directing proposal strategy, compliance, and communication among state, federal, and community partners.
- Built brand identity and marketing campaigns to recruit families and staff, surpassing first-year enrollment projections.
- Developed governance and operational frameworks to ensure sustainability, transparency, and accountability.
- Designed stakeholder communication systems to align culture and mission across both campuses.
Principal & Director of Culture - Chicago Campus
Legal Prep Charter Academies
Chicago
01.2020 - Current
- Lead academic, cultural, and communications strategy for Legal Prep's flagship Chicago campus while supporting the Indianapolis expansion.
- Awarded a $200K Invest for Kids Grant and raised over $100K through community partnerships to enhance innovation and student engagement.
- Achieved a four-year renewal term-the longest in the school's 10-year history and tied for the highest of any charter in Chicago that year-through transparent communication and performance reporting with board and authorizers.
- Led a culture transformation framework that replaced punitive systems with restorative accountability, reducing suspensions by 98% and achieving the lowest altercation rate in school history.
- Built internal communication and feedback systems improving collaboration and morale among 30+ staff members, partnering across finance, operations, and communications teams to align goals and performance metrics.
- Cultivated partnerships with law firms, nonprofits, and local businesses to expand postsecondary opportunities and community trust.
YS3 Youth-In-Care Mentor and Coach
Alternative School Network (McKinley Lakeside)
Chicago
08.2018 - 06.2020
- Mentored students in Department of Children & Family Services' Youth-in-Care program.
- Recruited participants for educational program targeting high school diploma attainment.
- Coached basketball, football, volleyball, and bowling teams to enhance skills and teamwork.
- Provided resources for students pursuing post-secondary education or employment opportunities.
- Completed monthly reports on student attendance and academic progress.
- Delivered administrative support for after-school programs to ensure smooth operations.
- Served as substitute teacher during unplanned absences to maintain classroom continuity.
Regional Sales Coordinator - Brand Communications & Operations
Revlon Consumer Products Corporation
Chicago
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Supported cross-functional brand communication and product launch initiatives across regional markets, ensuring message consistency and data accuracy.
- Partnered with marketing, operations, and broker teams to drive alignment on promotional strategy and execution.
- Managed product listings, pricing, and SKUs across national portals and coordinated data integrity for launches.
- Tracked and reported performance metrics for a $330M marketing development fund, optimizing resource allocation and ROI.
- Collaborated with senior leadership to create executive presentations and reports enhancing transparency and brand performance.
Intern/Co-op - Division of Communications & Marketing
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb
10.2010 - 01.2015
- Represented the university across a five-city region to increase brand awareness and enrollment through targeted outreach campaigns.
- Designed over 100 digital images for dynamic campus signage, elevating institutional visibility and consistency of brand messaging.
- Contributed to major engagement campaigns, including 'What2Do@NIU' and 'Ask Me, I'm Here to Help', enhancing student awareness and participation.
- Supported marketing staff with analytics and campaign performance reporting to guide communication strategies.
Education
M.Ed. - Instructional Leadership
American College of Education
03-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL12.2014
Skills
- Faith-centered leadership
- Youth and family engagement
- Educational program management
- Administrative operations
- Staff and volunteer development
- Curriculum implementation
- Restorative practices and SEL support
- Community partnerships
- Program evaluation
- Servant leadership
Select Achievements
- Secured over $2.3 million in external grants and $100K+ in donations to drive innovation, technology expansion, and student supports across two campuses.
- Achieved a four-year renewal term, the longest in Legal Prep's history and tied for the highest of any charter in Chicago that year.
- Directed communication and culture strategies unifying two campuses, enhancing staff morale, stakeholder trust, and organizational alignment.
Leadership Experience
- Founder, The 12:48 Collective - faith-based leadership and community empowerment initiative focused on outreach, discipleship, and social impact.
- Assistant District Director, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Greater Illinois District) - provided leadership and strategic communication for one of the fraternity's largest districts, overseeing 1,028 members across 32 chapters statewide and driving engagement and organizational alignment.
- Facilitator, Peace Warriors & Restorative Culture Partnership - led healing circles and community dialogues addressing trauma and conflict resolution.
- Graduate, Surge Institute - Leadership Collaborative & Black Principals Network - equity-centered leadership fellowship preparing education executives for systemic change.
- Licensed Minister, Christian Ministry (2020-Present) - providing organizational and spiritual leadership, mentorship, and community engagement.
Certification
Licensed Minister
Timeline
Founding Principal - Indianapolis Campus
Legal Prep Charter Academy
01.2023 - Current
Principal & Director of Culture - Chicago Campus
Legal Prep Charter Academies
01.2020 - Current
YS3 Youth-In-Care Mentor and Coach
Alternative School Network (McKinley Lakeside)
08.2018 - 06.2020
Regional Sales Coordinator - Brand Communications & Operations
Revlon Consumer Products Corporation
01.2016 - 01.2018
Intern/Co-op - Division of Communications & Marketing
Northern Illinois University
10.2010 - 01.2015
M.Ed. - Instructional Leadership
American College of Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Northern Illinois University