Schools salute K-5 math teacher

SMITHFIELD — Johnston County Public Schools have named their 2023-24 Outstanding K-5 Math Teacher. She is Clarice Williams.

For the past seven years, Williams has taught math at Cooper Academy in Clayton. She has been a teacher for 22 years, the past nine in Johnston County.

This year, Johnston schools nominated 30 teachers for the math award. As part of the process, teachers completed a questionnaire highlighting their teaching strategies, professional development and vision of high-quality math teaching and learning.

“My vision for high-quality instruction involves students engaged in challenging tasks, having meaningful dialogue about how to solve them and connecting prior knowledge to what could be possible,” Williams said in her questionnaire.

Her challenging, yet supportive approach has resulted in academic success for her students and recognition for herself, the schools said.

The school district named Williams the award winner during a luncheon for the nominees.

“Coming from a humble beginning, I have always had a passion for educating children from all walks of life,” Williams said. “It is doubly rewarding to provide high-quality education to students who may or may not have adequate educational resources, whether from home or school.”

Robin Hiatt and Christie Harding, who are math teaching and learning specialists in the Johnston County schools, presented the award to Williams. In a statement, they said: “Ms. Williams is a teacher who is dedicated to ensuring her students receive the highest quality math instruction possible. She is also a teacher dedicated to being a lifelong learner, as she is a regular participant in optional mathematics professional development to ensure she has the knowledge and strategies to pass on to her students.”

Williams gave credit to the math team at Cooper Academy and to other teachers in the district. “This is very special to me because it not only recognizes the hard work and dedication of me and my team members but the hard work and dedication of my colleagues and the many educators throughout the district,” she said. “I am fortunate to be a part of the JCPS family and to do what I simply love to do.”

Williams will receive a one-year membership in the N.C. Council for Teaching Mathematics, recognition at the State Mathematics Conference in November and a special memento.

Other nominees for the award were Brittany Adcock, Anita Aiken, Christian Beltran, Debbie Cascioli, Lauren Cox, Ana Melissa Dominguez, Donna DuPraw, Rahwa Habtemariam, Nickie Holloman, Jennifer Lancaster, Stacie Lester, Lena LeBoeuf, Yessica Mayor, Tracy Mitchell, Kaitlyn Painter, Tamara Ray, Celine Raybon, Jessica Rosenbaum, Leann Salvato, Lisa Scott, Cristy Shaver, Brooke Shives, Suzanne Smith, Shannon Smithies, Cristy Speight, Charlene Spruill, Amy Toler, Kristen Veilleux and Andi Whitley.

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