BA in History, 2008; Master of Arts in Teaching, 2010
School of Education
June 1, 2015
“We refuse to give up on any child.”
William Gray is a native son of California, having lived in the greater Los Angeles area since he was 12. Upon graduation from high school, William elected to attend the University of California, Irvine on a Regents Scholarship, graduating with a degree in history in 2008. He returned to UCI to earn his teaching credential in social science and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT).
William attended Palisades Charter High School, a school that put into stark contrast the gap in educational opportunities afforded children from different neighborhoods in the same city. This experience has led to his pursuing a career in the charter school community with a particular passion for providing children in traditionally underserved communities with a high quality education.
William joined the staff of Magnolia Science Academy-Bell as a founding teacher in 2010 and was made department chair in 2011. He transitioned to Dean of Academics in Spring 2014 and will take over as Principal effective Summer 2015.
UC Irvine provided William with the practical tools necessary to make real, quantifiable differences in the lives of his students, and reinforced his beliefs in the values that provide the fuel for high-quality teachers. He is lead to a team of teachers that share his philosophy of persistence and determination, as well as an absolute refusal to give up on any child.
The success of students at MSA-Bell comes down to a way of thinking that is simply understood but not easily put into practice: the teachers take ownership of the challenges that their students face and does whatever necessary to give them the education they deserve.
Their motivation stems from the fact that our students don’t have time to wait for someone else to step in and help them. The time for action is in the moment. There is no “later” when it comes to getting students interested in learning and invested in their education. Research has shown time and again that middle school is the turning point for many students; what happens in these three years will have tremendous effect on whether they drop out or stay in school and achieve their life goals.
William is fortunate to be able to say that these efforts have proven worthwhile. MSA-Bell has a positive school culture, academic results that are at the top of any in the city and, most importantly, a feeling of community for its parents and students.