Home sweet home, a phrase that holds significance for everyone, a metaphor to a space where you can relax, and feel at peace. This is precisely what Cypress Springs High School means to Principal Dr. Plas Williams Jr, who is now returning to the place he has held dear in his heart throughout the years.
“Cy Springs is home,” Dr. Williams said. “Its s my place of comfort and connection. I am always excited to be home.”
At first, Dr. Williams’s plans were nothing close to what he found his passion in. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, and worked as a police officer, patrolling the streets and conducting undercover research.
His work in the police force opened his eyes to the opportunities adjacent to the field of education, and empowered him to make the decision of his life. Dr. Williams made it his mission to change teenagers’ lives, and give them a chance at a better future.
“In education, I can reach students before they make bad decisions,” Dr. Williams said, “I want to be there, and help them see a brighter future.”
Dr. Williams, motivated by his newfound passion, started his education career as a high school teacher at Heights High School, where he later became the Director of Instruction. He then became a teacher at Campbell Middle School, where he was promoted to Assistant Principal and then to Director of Instruction.
In 2018, Dr. Williams transferred to Cy Springs as Director of Instruction and then was promoted to Associate Principal in 2020. In 2022, he became the Principal at Truitt Middle School and now he has returned to Cy Springs, with 25 years of experience in education, after being announced as the new principal on November 14, 2025.
“When I left Truitt, a lot of kids cried,” Dr. Williams said. “I had 800 farewell cards and the staff kept texting, even now. That shows the impact I had on the school, but it takes time to build that connection with a new school.”
During his years at Truitt, Dr. Williams shaped the culture of the school and continuously pushed for more significant involvement of every student, staff and parent in the community. Academically, he also looked for students to perform their best, and feel their best during and after school hours. He plans to do the same for Cypress Springs.
When Dr. Williams returned to Cypress Springs as the newly appointed principal, he was set on listening to the needs of staff and students alike. To him, communication, maintaining harmony, and constructing bonds is a priority. Before his official start date, he organized meetings with club presidents and student leaders to ensure their voices were heard. Intentionally doing so before meeting with any staff members to guarantee equality.
“I want to be seen as a person, not just as a principal.” Dr. Williams said, “Students and adults have different stories and I always talk about how everyone you meet is going through something nobody else knows, everyone has their own story.”
Dr. Williams’s goals and expectations for Cy Springs are high, but he has no doubt in the spirit of our Panthers. He shared that necessary changes will be made for everyone to be able to enjoy the pride of being a part of Cypress Springs High School.
“Cy Springs has always been like a gym for me,” Dr. Williams said, “I know I came in strong, but that was intentional. There is just so much culture in this school, a mixture of various backgrounds and people that love to grow and improve alongside each other.”
To Dr. Williams, culture is everything, and he plans to change Cypress Springs in a way that reflects that. Some of the changes that he wants to make, include but are not limited to, making teachers feel more acknowledged and comfortable communicating issues with him. Also, pushing to enhance parent participation and school spirit by organizing a more involved family committee, inviting students to engage in more school events, and changing the school motto from ‘We Are That School’ to ‘I.B.I ME’ which stands for ‘I Believe In ME.’
“The culture of a campus starts with the individual,” Dr. Williams said. “You have to believe in yourself before anyone else can buy and spend into you. It starts with believing, and I believe in our Panthers.”
He believes our school is more than a building; it is a community of diverse learners, families, and educators working toward a shared purpose.
“I am proud of the progress we continue to make together and remain committed to ensuring our campus is a place where excellence is expected, growth is encouraged, and every individual feels seen, supported, and empowered to succeed,” he said.
Dr. Williams wants students to know that he believes deeply in them. To him, Cypress Springs and the community around it is more than capable of accomplishing great things and he wants to continue supporting the success of his students in all possible areas, ensuring that everyone continues growing together and reshaping the image of a Panther.
“I am a husband, I am a dad and my passion is people,” Dr. Williams said. “I want students to see a person that really cares about them. They might not remember my name, but I hope they remember what I have done for them.”
