Carroll County Public School Division Superintendent Dr. Mark Burnette (at left) presents CCHS Drafting Teacher Christy Williams with a flower arrangement as he announces her earning Teacher Of the Year honors as CCHS Principal “Chuck” Thompson congratulates Williams. The presentation was made as Williams marks beginning her 28th year in the division. Her teaching philosophy is “Be The Change You Want to See in the World.”
David Broyles | The Carroll News
These people were among those on hand September 9 at CCHS to present Drafting Teacher Christy Williams a trophy honoring her as “Teacher Of the Year” in the Carroll County Public School Division. Pictured from left are School Board Chairman Brian Spencer, School Superintendent Dr. Mark Burnette, Drafting Teacher Christy Williams, Assistant Principal/CTE Coordinator Jay Holderfield and Principal Charles “Chuck” Thompson.
David Broyles | The Carroll News
Carroll County Public Schools Teacher of the Year 2022 Christy Williams is living her professional career’s credo of “Be The Change You Want to See in the World.” The start of Williams’ 28th year in the division was marked with the presentation of the award on September 9 at Carroll County High School.
“Christy is a wonderful teacher. She’s a top-notch teacher and a top-notch person. Not just academically….she does so many other things for the welfare of the school,” said School Superintendent Dr. Mark Burnette. “She takes on so many things with the club sponsorships and everything she does….all of the things she does with the prom. She’s always been a member of the prom committee. She does a lot of extra things that make Carroll County High School what it is. To be in a job this long and to still love it as much is a testament to her. She has such a good relationship with the kids. You can see that in the classroom.”
William has served as drafting teacher at Carroll County High since 1995. She has been married for 22 years to her husband, Mitch, who is a civil engineer and public works director for the City of Mount Airy (N.C.) where they reside. The two have a son, Raleigh, and a daughter, Charlotte, who are both enrolled at CCHS this year. According to information supplied by the division, they are a gaming family which spends quality time together on Mario Kart tracks or Animal Crossing islands.
She took drafting in high school after spending years watching her older brother draw plans on his drafting table at home. Williams quickly grasped that while she never considered herself very artistic, with the right tools she could create realistic drawings of equipment and beautiful home plans with a pencil, a piece of paper and a few drafting tools.
Williams credits North Surry High School drafting teacher Melvin T. Jackson with kindling that vision by making the class fun while learning a lot, thinking Jackson had the dream job she wanted to do one day. That opportunity came in 1995 when college professor Bobby Shumaker called her to say he’d seen a drafting teacher job posted in the newspaper. It was a position left vacant when Burnette left that post to become an assistant principal. Williams has been with the division since then and said she has loved almost every minute of it.
“Oh my gosh you all!!! I am in shock! Oh my gosh! Thank you so much.” said Williams as central office, CCHS staffers and others including Principal “Chuck” Thompson, Assistant Principal Kristen Quesenberry and CTE Coordinator Jay Holderfield surprised her in the classroom that morning. “I just opened up the paper one day and there was that ad. It was just….and then when I walked in downstairs I was like….I’m home!”
Proof of this is evidenced in light of Jackson retiring from North Surry and several calls urging Williams to apply there for that post but she didn’t want to. (North Surry is a five-minute drive from Williams’ home while her daily commute to CCHS is 30-minutes.)
She writes in her philosophy of teaching application for the honor, “One day it dawned on me that, through my students, I have a captive audience right in front of me every day! I realized that I can make a huge difference in these students, so I decided to start interacting with them in a way that would create a ripple effect.”
Williams’ many achievement including starting “Motivational Monday” videos where students are shown kindness expressed in various ways by everyday heroes. This sparked the creation of “Intersession Class” where students are taught how to manage stress and anxiety and that led to the AOK-Acts Of Kindness/Are You OK school club.
Williams is a member of the “CCHS WOW” committee where teachers come up with ideas to brighten the school and improve the mood of students and staff. Projects have included positive messages on restroom mirrors and outdoor sidewalks, decorating contests and a “Friday the 13th” activity where pennies are placed face up that day. Many examples of Williams’s students work are visible in the community with stickers, signs and banners made on the drafting lab’s vinyl cutter. Students have partnered with various businesses, churches and the Carroll County Board of Elections over the years to make parking signs and banners.
The Williamses are also locally known for a project straight from the movies. She and her husband involved students from the CCHS drafting and engineering departments to create a real life replica of the “Pizza Planet Truck” from the film “Toy Story 4.” The truck has become a popular fixture at school events and community events in the region. Williams also serves as the Skills USA Advisor, which helps students with career planning and preparation. She has previously been honored as the CCPSD November Staff Member of the Month in 2021.
David Broyles may be reached at 276-779-4013 or on Twitter@CarrollNewsDave
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