In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, Aidan McDowell sits down with Dr. Julie Williams, Deputy Superintendent of Fayetteville Public Schools, for a wide-ranging conversation about how schools can honor student strengths, expand real-world learning, and design environments that truly serve the whole child.
Dr. Williams shares the story behind Fayetteville’s middle school choice programs, including outdoor adventure and science-focused pathways that give students hands-on, interest-driven learning anchored in community experiences. From leveraging natural ecosystems to tapping into world-class arts and culture in Northwest Arkansas, she outlines what it looks like when a district builds programs around passion, inquiry, and authentic engagement.
The conversation also explores:
Dr. Williams brings decades of experience, deep systems thinking, and an unwavering belief in student potential. Her insights highlight what’s possible when districts embrace curiosity, flexibility, and whole-child well-being as core design principles.
Key Moments
02:13 How the middle school choice program was born
04:42 Why passion and inquiry drive deeper student engagement
06:58 Early challenges in shifting to performance-based learning
09:11 Building teacher confidence through small, meaningful wins
11:27 How student autonomy transformed classroom culture
14:03 Community partnerships that expanded real-world learning
17:25 Supporting teachers as designers, not deliverers
19:54 Measuring success beyond traditional assessments
22:41 What families noticed first about the new approach
25:12 Julie’s advice for districts launching a choice program
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