Alesia Williams, an English and humanities teacher at duPont Manual High School (Jefferson County), is the most recent recipient of the WHAS11-TV Excellence in Classroom and Educational Leadership (ExCEL) Award.

Williams “places an emphasis on academic rigor while giving her students as close to a college experience as possible,” said Principal Larry Wooldridge. “Ms. Williams is truly a teacher who cares about her students and strives to provide instruction that is both challenging and fun.”

Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Berea College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Spalding University. She also spent two years in graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.

She taught at Liberty High beginning in 2001 and then joined the staff at Manual in 2004. She earned certification from the Western Kentucky University Center for Gifted Studies to teach Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and

Composition. Her students consistently earn high scores on AP tests. She also teaches Advanced History and Appreciation of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Williams has served as a writing cluster coordinator and as a teacher representative on the School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council. She also is co-sponsor of the Manual Student-Teacher Book Club.

She has volunteered for numerous community organizations, including Special Olympics, the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program of Kentuckiana and the J. B. Speed Art Museum.

As a winner of the ExCEL Award, Williams will receive a $1,000 instructional grant from LG&E KU.