Alex Williams was named Heartland’s 2025 Rookie of the Year.

Mrs. Williams was born and raised in Owasso, Oklahoma. She graduated from Owasso High School in 2016 and got her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M in 2020, then went on to get her Masters of Human Resources Management from the University of Oklahoma in 2022.

After work in the corporate world left her feeling unfulfilled, she realized that she could combine her love of learning and her desire to do meaningful work that makes a difference by becoming a teacher, which has become her passion.

She began her career in education as a substitute teacher, which is how she got connected at Heartland before starting as a 6th grade Geography teacher in January 2024.

Mrs. Williams loves teaching because of the opportunity it gives her to do good that actually matters. She recalls that on her worst, longest days in the corporate world, she would come home angry knowing that all the frustrations of her day served only to increase shareholder value and participate in a system that she did not fully believe in.

She feels great encouragement in the knowledge that even on her worst, most challenging days in the classroom, she can at least guarantee that what she did made a difference - that she was able to be a positive influence and show kindness and love to every student that walked through her door.

Principal Veronica Johnson praises Mrs. Williams for stepping into a difficult role mid-year and for her “wonderful classroom management and extraordinary ability to connect with her students, things that most non-traditionally certified teachers struggle with for years.” She adds that Mrs. Williams is “young and full of energy and zest that infectiously impacts all of those that she encounters and she is an integral part of our community!”

Assistant Principal Laura Brown adds, “Mrs. Williams is one of a kind. She sees a need and is willing to step up to fill the need. We are lucky she found her home at Heartland.”

Mrs. Williams serves as a member of the Heartland Foundations team, helping to shape the climate and culture of our school, and is also the head coach of the eSports team and a co-sponsor of the Heartland RZE step team.

Rookie of the Year is awarded to an outstanding teacher in their first year of teaching. (It is not awarded in years when no teachers are eligible for nomination.)