Reidsville High School biology teacher named county’s teacher of the year

On Thursday night, Rockingham County schools honored Jared Williams as 2008-09 Teacher of the Year.

Williams teaches 10th and 11th grade biology and honors biology at Reidsville High School. He is in his sixth year of teaching and his fourth teaching in Rockingham County.

Jeryl Rice, a social studies teacher at Rockingham County High School, was runner-up.

“It’s strange to think that a Yankee like me from Niagara Falls who’s only been here four years can be worthy of the honor of teacher of the year for this county,” Williams said during the banquet at Pennrose Park Country Club.

“Our kids are plugged into society more than they ever have been before,” said Williams. “We’re just trying to play catch up … plugging into what they already know and using that for what we’re trying to accomplish.”

To Williams, the most rewarding aspect of being a teacher happens when a student understands the value of a lab experiment and sees the benefits of what Williams is trying to teach.

“I’m blessed with really good kids, and they see the picture,” said Williams. “I tell everybody that I have the best students around.”

He encouraged other Rockingham teachers to “show everyone what we’re really made of” and “strive for new levels of academic excellence” in their classrooms.

“Student success is attainable for everyone,” he reminded teachers.

Rockingham County High chorus teacher Beverly Burke, the 2007-08 teacher of the year, shared some of the reasons she likes teaching in Rockingham, including support from the school board and administrators, the rural nature of the county, the students’ strong values and the system’s “belief that the whole child should be taught.” Burke was a member of the committee that nominated Williams as teacher of the year.

“I felt like he could bring new, fresh ideas to the classroom,” said Burke. Williams tries to stay ahead of the learning curve and integrate technology into his biology classroom.

“We’re right on the edge of how technology moves, so that’s what keeps it exciting,” he said.

Superintendent Rodney Shotwell reminded teachers the impact technology is having on education.

“Everything that I’ve dreamt about as a child in science fiction is coming true,” he said. He said ACTIV Boards should be in every classroom to “move forward on 21st-century technology.”

Williams said the equipment in the science department will likely be outdated in five years. He hopes to put the $400 staff development voucher — his reward as teacher of the year — in the department’s budget and use it for supplies. Rice received a $200 voucher as runner-up.

Staff writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.