ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Former Harrison-Morton Middle School Principal Stephanie Williams spoke publicly Thursday about a recent incident in which she was recorded acting erratically at Bucky Boyle Park, calling it a “mental health episode.”
In a video posted to her Instagram and TikTok accounts, Williams, 39, disclosed that she has bipolar disorder, which she said led to her behavior on Saturday, Sept. 13.
She called the incident a “very personal moment of mine that went viral.”
Williams submitted her resignation as Harrison-Morton's principal on Wednesday, according to an Allentown School District statement.
LehighValleyNews.com spoke with Williams by phone Thursday to confirm the validity of the social media video that explained the September incident.
That Saturday, Williams allegedly harassed people at the park, yelled at children and kicked out the back window of a police vehicle, according to a Sept. 24 news release from the Allentown Police Department.
Williams was cited for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. Police described her behavior as "erratic" and "inexplicable."
Videos shared on social media of the incident showed Williams rolling around on the ground and laughing while interacting with youth.
Williams resigns as HMMS principal
The Allentown School District placed Williams on indefinite administrative leave the day of her incident.
In a Sept. 24 statement from ASD, the district said Williams was using accrued paid time off.
The district said in a Thursday statement that Williams submitted her resignation the day before.
That statement was sent to Harrison-Morton staff and families to update them on the school's leadership situation.
It also said Allentown school directors will vote on accepting Williams' resignation at their Oct. 23 school board meeting.
Arcelius Brickhouse, the district’s executive director of instructional leadership, stepped in to lead Harrison-Morton in Williams' absence.
Brickhouse will continue as acting principal, the district said Thursday.
He is the fourth leader the school has had in the last year.
"We are confident in his leadership and the school’s continued commitment to student learning and success," the ASD statement said.
Williams had only been in her role as Harrison-Morton's principal for a few weeks when the Sept. 13 incident occurred.
Before joining ASD, she was the principal of Belmont Charter Middle School in Philadelphia.
'Unbearable weight of being a leader'
In her Thursday video, Williams said she was experiencing a manic episode on Sept. 13 that was triggered by stress and life changes.
“It was the result of stress, burnout [and] the unbearable weight of being a leader combined with my lifelong journey of living with bipolar disorder.”Stephanie Williams, Harrison-Morton Middle School principal
The incident was recorded and posted on social media, where it gained attention from the ASD community.
“What you saw in that video was the result of my disability,” she said.
Williams dispelled rumors that drug use caused her behavior.
“It was the result of stress, burnout [and] the unbearable weight of being a leader combined with my lifelong journey of living with bipolar disorder,” she said.
Williams said she is not the only person who experiences mental health struggles, such as “anxiety, depression, mania, [post-traumatic stress disorder], postpartum depression, chronic illness, [or] physical, mental and invisible disabilities.”
She said silence allows for misinformation and stigma.
Williams said her late mother, who was a nurse, had bipolar disorder and died by suicide at the age of 46.
“Her story has shaped who I am, and I refuse to let the loss of her life or my very public mental health breakdown be the end of me and the end of my story,” she said.
“We all deserve compassion and care no matter who we are or what title we hold.”
'Deeply painful' response from social media users
Williams said the online response to her mental health episode has been “deeply painful,” but thanked those who offered prayers.
“As a Black woman, my vulnerability wasn’t just questioned, it was turned into entertainment,” she said.
“Too often when Black women show their pain, the world forgets our humanity, and that has to change.”
Williams said her recent experience has renewed her commitment to advocating for disenfranchised children and families.
“Resilience isn’t about never falling,” she said. “It’s about getting back up and using your pain to define your purpose.
"If you take anything from my story, I hope that you remember that you are excellent, you are brilliant and one moment does not define you.”
