At YES Prep Public Schools, great teaching is often shaped by moments of decision—moments where educators choose to stay, to grow, and to believe in the impact they can have.
For Pleshette Williams, an interventionist at YES Prep Southeast Elementary, that moment came at a time when she was ready to walk away.
With 17 years in education, TIA-Master designated and Level IV teacher, Pleshette had built a strong foundation in the classroom, teaching across grade levels and content areas. Yet despite her experience, she found herself questioning whether to continue in the profession at all. Then, one day, everything shifted.
“When I was hired at YES Prep, I was seriously thinking about giving up my teaching career,” she shared. “Then I met Diana Rios, and she hired me as a 3rd grade math teacher in 2022. That changed the course of my thinking and turned out to be the best year of my 17-year career.”
That one opportunity didn’t just bring her back, it reignited her purpose.
A Calling Rooted in Care and Access
Pleshette’s path into education began at home. As a mother, she saw firsthand the power of individualized learning while homeschooling her own children. Watching their progress sparked a deeper realization, many families do not have the same access or flexibility. That realization became a calling.
She brought her background in child development into the classroom with a clear goal, to ensure that all children, regardless of circumstance, have access to meaningful, high-quality learning experiences.
Making Learning Feel Possible
Inside Pleshette’s classroom, learning is intentionally structured and accessible.
Her approach centers on breaking down complex concepts into what she calls “bite-sized” chunks, making learning feel manageable and, most importantly, achievable.
“I think this makes any new concept less intimidating,” she explains, “and students can believe they are going to be successful at mastering the concept which is critical because when students begin to see success as possible, they begin to engage differently—with more confidence, more persistence, and more ownership of their learning.”
And the results speak for themselves. During her time in the classroom, Pleshette consistently met or exceeded growth goals in math, including strong performance on both middle-of-year and end-of-year MAP assessments.
From Classroom Leader to Future School Leader
Pleshette’s impact extends beyond her students. Through her work as a New Teacher Mentor, Grade Level Chair, and Teacher Advocacy Captain, she has helped shape the experience of fellow educators across her campus and beyond. Her leadership has even taken her to Austin, where she advocated for charter school funding and teacher pay incentives, bringing the voices of teachers and students to the state level.
It was her work with new teachers that sparked something more. Supporting educators through the Teaching Excellence program, leading trainings, coaching, and watching their growth, shifted how she saw herself. The trust placed in her by her peers and the determination she saw in new teachers inspired her to take the next step in her own journey.
Now, as a participant in the School Leader Incubator Program, a YES Prep program designed to provide development and growth opportunities to high-performing teachers, Pleshette is preparing to expand her impact even further.
A Place to Grow, A Reason to Stay
For Pleshette, YES Prep is the place that reignited her career and continues to grow it. She describes a culture where leadership is strong, support is consistent, and growth is not only encouraged but expected. It is a place where student outcomes remain the priority, and where teachers are equipped with the tools and coaching needed to make that impact real. “I love it here at YES,” she shared.
Rediscovering What’s Possible
Pleshette’s story is about rediscovering what is possible within teaching. Her advice to others is, “for educators seeking to make an impact academically and socially, while also growing in their own practice, YES Prep offers the opportunity to do both. This place opened up experiences for me that literally saved my teaching career.”
Pleshette Williams’ journey is a reminder that great teaching is not just about where you start—it is about the moments that shape you along the way. And sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity to change everything.