Felicia Thomas-Williams is Long Island's first new Board of Regents representative in 20 years

Ever since she was a little girl at Taukomas Elementary School in Wyandanch, there was something about helping students that had a particular hold on Felicia Thomas-Williams.

"I always wanted to volunteer in the special education classroom," she said. "I always wanted to read to students."

While she initially earned a bachelor of science in American studies from SUNY Old Westbury, the retired Brentwood educator said she found herself drawn to working with kids.

"All the things that I kept finding myself attracted to were in the realm of education," Thomas-Williams said in an interview last month at the Western Suffolk BOCES offices in Dix Hills.

Now Thomas-Williams, 56, of Wheatley Heights, will have a say in how students across Long Island and the state are educated as the Board of Regents' first new representative for the Island in 20 years. Thomas-Williams, who starts in her new role Tuesday, replaces Roger Tilles, who will serve out the remaining year of a vacant, at-large position on the board.

Those who have worked with Thomas-Williams say they have been impressed by her commitment to her students and her ability to advocate, on the state and federal levels, for funding and initiatives that will benefit them.

"I think it’s exciting to have not only Roger Tilles there, at-large, but also have Felicia there," Assemb. Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont) said. "It’s going to create a dynamic where Long Island is heard in the Board of Regents. I think it’s going to be a wonderful synergy between them."

Tilles, 78, said his move to an at-large position allows him to serve  a shorter term, while giving Long Islanders a second voice who can commit to a five-year term. He called Thomas-Williams a "dedicated educator" and said  "our mission as Regents is both excellence and equity, and as long as we keep that in mind — that both need to be fulfilled — that's going to be important."

Thomas-Williams is joining the board at a time when President Donald Trump's administration has vowed to shut down the federal Department of Education, severely cut its staff and threatened to pull funding from colleges and universities. In the interview with Newsday last month, she stressed the importance of maintaining vital student services and supporting existing programs.

Equity, excellence and empowerment

Thomas-Williams said after college, her passion for education led her to take an assistant teaching position with Eastern Suffolk BOCES, where she worked with "emotionally disturbed" students. 

She said she went on to obtain a master of science degree in special education from Long Island University and eventually earned a certificate in school district administration from Touro College.

In 1996, Thomas-Williams joined the Brentwood school district, where she spent much of her career as an administrator before retiring last year as the principal of West Middle School. The school serves about 900 students, about 80% of whom are low-income, according to state education figures.

As a leader in the district, her former colleagues said she advocated for federal and state funding, championed vital initiatives and cared deeply for her students.

"In every role — whether as a teacher, assistant principal or building principal — Felicia demonstrated commitment to equity, excellence and student empowerment," Brentwood schools Superintendent Wanda Ortiz-Rivera said in a statement. "She launched impactful initiatives such as My Brother’s Keeper and Breakfast of Champions at West Middle School, both of which reflected her belief in uplifting every child, recognizing their full potential and preparing them for success."

Jose Suarez, who worked with Thomas-Williams before his retirement in 2012 as principal of the district's Freshman Center, said she was thoughtful about issues affecting bilingual students, afterschool programs and even about helping families outside of school hours. He recalled the effort she would put into her lively morning announcements after greeting kids in the morning.

"She would stand at the main doors, say hello to everyone, making sure they were picking up a breakfast," he said. "They knew they could come to her for just about everything."

Legacy of community involvement

Thomas-Williams is active in several educational and community organizations, including the Mothers' Club of Wheatley Heights, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Long Island Association for Curriculum and Development and the Long Island Black Educators.

Her passion for community work isn’t an accident. Her father, Douglas Thomas, has been a part of the Wyandanch Wheatley Heights Ambulance Corp. for more than 50 years, while her mother, Sandra Thomas, founded Resurrection House, a community-based shelter for homeless families, and has been an advocate and social activist in her community for more than 50 years. Sandra Thomas helped found the Mothers' Club of Wheatley Heights, which was created after the Taukomas school closed.

"I was just raised to make sure I needed to be involved, vigilant, vocal," Thomas-Williams said. "Otherwise, if you’re not a part of the solution, how can you talk about the problem?"

As a member of the board of directors and Government Relations Committee of the School Administrators Association of New York State, Thomas-Williams traveled to Albany and Washington, D.C., to advocate for mental health support in schools, programming to increase the educator pipeline and Title I funding, which benefits districts and schools with large numbers of low-income students.

"Felicia's advocacy on these issues was so strongly respected that, not only did she testify before Congress, but [the National Association of Secondary School Principals] also had her provide training to building principals from across the country on how to effectively speak to federal lawmakers about issues impacting their schools," Jennifer Carlson, executive director of the school administrators association, said.

Thomas-Williams said she loved "seeing aha moments" with elected officials. She recalled, for example, speaking to lawmakers during the pandemic about the need for funding to feed and care for students in the Brentwood school district.

"When you explain to stakeholders the difference between a school that relies on funding, opposed to a school that has a solid tax base — people don’t see that, so they’re not fully informed about that disparity," Thomas-Williams said. "So, when you get to tell them the difference from that boots on the ground perspective, I think it effectuates change."

Preparing for her new role

Thomas-Williams said Assemb. Kwani O’Pharrow (D-West Babylon), who had previously worked as a safety officer in the Brentwood school district, approached her about becoming a Regent and supported her nomination.

"Her extensive experience as a school principal, combined with her passion for advocating for students and her extensive educational advocacy work on both the state and federal levels, makes her an ideal candidate," O’Pharrow said.

The Board of Regents is responsible for setting much of the state's academic policy. Its 17 members are not paid.

Solages, O'Pharrow's legislative colleague, said she was impressed by Thomas-Williams’ deep knowledge of the educational system, positive demeanor and ability to build coalitions.

The assemblywoman said some of the issues facing Long Island schools are chronic absenteeism, how to use artificial intelligence and the increasing demand for career and technical education programs.

As she prepared for her new role, Thomas-Williams said she was reading up on policy and setting up meetings with local school leaders. She said she will continue to advocate and learn more about issues such as student mental health, the state's changing graduation requirements, student evaluation, digital literacy and artificial intelligence.

"I really want our students to be able to compete in the global market… I want to really be able to provide the supports that gives everyone what they need, meets them where they are and helps them reach their highest potential," she said.