Someone students and staff can count on
Meet Monmouth County ESP of the Year Dolan Williams
By Kathryn Coulibaly
Congratulations to my first cousin Mr Dollan Williams of Old Road, St Kitts who now resides in New Jersey
Dolan Williams,a custodian at Bradbury Elementary School in Asbury Park and the 2025-26 Monmouth County ESP of the Year, there is a different energy during the school year.
“When the students and staff come back into the building. there’s a new bright light that’s shining,” Williams says.
Williams was born in Saint Kitts, a Caribbean island officially called Saint Christopher. Moving from St. Kitts to New Jersey was a culture shock of its own.
“I was 15 years old when I came to the United States,” Williams recalls. “As a young teen, I didn’t understand why I had to leave home and come here. I was frustrated and missing home. As I grew up, my awareness became brighter.
Williams relates to the many students who are immigrants, but he tries to connect with all of the students and staft.
“I like to get to know the students and learn their names, I try to spend time with the kids who stand out as troublemakers. I want to find out what the issue is and if I can be someone who helps them. Maybe I can help solve the problem, but even if I cannor, i try to make the day a little easier for them.”
Williams got his professional start thanks to a now. defunct federal program, the Job Training Partnership Act.
“I participated in the program from 1992 to 1996,”
Williams says. “It helped students be responsible, earn money, learn how to manage their own money and maybe assist their families. It taught me a lot.”
Williams graduated from high school in 1995 and began working. In 2013, a friend told him about the custodial position with the Asbury Park School District and he’s been working in the district ever since.
“For the most part, my job is fun. I enjoy working with the students and staff and taking care of the facilities.
During the summer, the work becomes even more intense.
We’re pulling out desks, furniture, wiping everything down, changing the lights, replacing ceiling tiles, and trying to bring the shine and cleanliness back to the school before students and staff come back.”
Willlams feels honored to have been named the
Monmouth County ESP of the Year.
“I still cannot believe it,” Williams says. “I’m humbled by it. I’ve been putting in the work, keeping my head down and focusing on the goal. I haven’t been working to achieve any honors, I’ve been working to be a better individual.
I want to be someone the kids and staff can count on.”
Williams is eager to see more educational support professionals receive recognition for the work they do every day “Educational support professionals, particul
