Patrick Williams is a Technology Education teacher at Pittsburgh Obama Academy of International Studies. He teaches 9th grade Introduction to Engineering and 10th grade Applied Engineering. Patrick connects his class to the schools’ maker space, MPowerStudio.  His core value revolves around showing students gifts, talents, skills, and abilities that students never thought they had before. He wants his students to leave his classroom feeling empowered to take full control of their lives and to create a path of meaning and purpose.

Born and raised in a maker environment, Patrick’s interest in technology began very early in his life. If he wasn’t taking apart random objects, his dad was teaching him in his wood shop. From building Lego and K’Nex robots and projects to designing and building furniture with his dad, Patrick always seems to find new opportunities to open his mind.

Since starting at the Obama Academy, Patrick has helped build the school’s maker space from the beginning. He wants to give all students an equal opportunity to express themselves through design and making. He focuses on designing with purpose and the art of making an idea visible.

When Patrick is not teaching, he could be at the gym, playing guitar, riding his motorcycle, or working on his side business.

Patrick has earned a Masters in Education – School Counseling and a Bachelors in Science – Technology Education from California University of Pennsylvania.