Changing students every day: A feature on Norman Williams

This article won second place in the 2023 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.

A hippy teacher with a cool, calm spirit walks into the classroom one day and the students are excited. Their actual teacher is gone, but Norman Williams is the substitute. The day will be relaxed, laid back, and the kids will get their work done. They will also have a good time. Both teachers and students will say only great things about him. This is the magic of Mr. Williams.

Before Williams taught at Northview, he was a part of a band that he played with all across Michigan. After trying to get into college, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War for 10 months and, upon return, attended college at Northern Michigan University. After getting his degree, he traveled around the state teaching at many different schools until eventually retiring. However, Williams fell in love with the Northview community and volunteered to be a substitute teacher last year.

“I just noticed there was a comradery among students and staff [at Northview] that they really cared about each other,” Williams said. “That was really drawing, so I just stopped going anywhere else to focus all my attention on Northview.”

Williams has become close with many people and one of those people is English teacher Audra Whetstone. Whetstone has been teaching for 14 years and hasn’t made a friendship as unique as the one she has with Williams. Whetstone recalls the first time she had met him.

“I came across him in [Shelli] Tabor’s room sometime last year. [Megan] Porter told me, ‘Audra, could you help Tabor’s sub? He’s having problems with technology,’ and I said, ‘Sure!’ None of us knew Norm [Williams] yet,” Whetstone said. “I popped in to introduce myself and told him my name, and he just said, ‘Wow. That is a beautiful name.’ And instantly I just wanted to help him. I helped him [while being very stressed out] but he instantly calmed me.”

Currently, Whetstone and Williams get closer and closer and they talk to each other every day Williams is in the building. They will exchange different ideas of books for each other to read. Whenever Whetstone needs a sub, she always tries to see if Williams is available to fill in.

“If I say [Mr. Williams will be the sub], everybody erupts, and that’s because he goes around to each [student] individually and makes you feel special in just a simple way. He takes the time to talk to you,” Whetstone said. “I think for him to show you how powerful a genuine conversation is with somebody that you don’t even know is really important.”

Before class begins, Williams always makes the same short speech. Most kids know this as the Smart, Kind and Important or SKI speech.

“I saw it from a movie a while back and I thought ‘Hey, that is such an uplifting thing to tell kids,’” Williams said. “It might not be exactly what it was in the movie, but I still think it is important to remind everybody of how unique each and every one of them are.”

Williams goes around and brings a different activity to do with each of the kids each time. He has done things like asking a Would-You-Rather question, handing out motivational sayings on cards, and having one-on-one conversations with each student.

“I feel called to be here and teach, and I think that it is my job to interact with and get to know [each student],” Williams said. “I feel having a connection and building a relationship is the most important thing I can do. Before I can reach out in a better way, I want [my students] to learn to trust.” 

During homecoming week, each member of the homecoming court chose one person to walk them out during the pep rally. Senior Wayne Topp, chose Williams as the teacher to walk him, even though he is a substitute teacher. Topp had grown close to Williams during his junior year.

“I think he’s been a great influence on me because he’s given me a lot of motivation. He’s given me a new perspective of my life,” Topp said. “He always writes SKI on the board, and he preaches being kind and optimistic. And I think that’s really helped me with my outlook in life.”

When Topp walked out with Williams during the pep rally, they got the “loudest cheer,” according to Whetstone. It seems as though everybody loves him and for a simple reason: he treats every person fairly and kindly.

“Show compassion and kindness to others,” Williams said. “There are some kids in this school who are just going through a lot and it is just important to show love to those around you, no matter who it is. I think it really could make a difference in the world if you just be compassionate.”