Life changer: Tri-Rivers instructor David Willey honored for his work with students
A beloved instructor at Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion is receiving national recognition after being named a recipient of the LifeChanger of the Year Award.
David Willey, director of the Construction Trades Academy (CTA) at Tri-Rivers, was honored during a ceremony on Thursday at the school. He was presented a plaque commemorating his selection as a grand prize finalist in the program and received a $5,000 prize that he will share with the school.
The LifeChanger of the Year award program operated by National Life Group honors educators and school district employees who "go above and beyond for their students." National Life Group is a financial services company that serves K-12 educators around the United States.
Willey, who grew up in Prospect and followed in his father's footsteps by pursuing a career in the construction industry, was overcome by emotion at being chosen as a recipient of the award and at the sight of all the students from the Construction Trades Academy filling up more than half of the seats arranged for the occasion in the Gacque Auditorium at Tri-Rivers.
He said the award is a reflection of the hard work that both the instructors and students have put into building what is now the fastest-growing and largest program at Tri-Rivers.
"This means everything. It means how important the kids are and how important giving back to the community is," Willey said. "Hard work and dedication to the students and the time that I've spent is recognized. I'm surprised by it. I didn't even think it was a possibility. I don't feel quite deserving of it, but I try my best every day to do a good job. I love my students and the school, the community, and I want to do what's best for them."
Willey, a 2000 graduate of Tri-Rivers, joined Tri-Rivers Career Center as an instructor during the 2017-18 academic year after working as a commercial carpenter and foreman. He had a successful career, but felt a calling to share his knowledge and inspire the next generation of carpenters.
Under Willey’s leadership, the CTA program has grown from around 20 students in the Level 1 and 2 programs to more than 100 students in the Construction Trades 10 (preconstruction), Level 1, and Level 2 programs. He hopes to continue the upward trend of the program.
"We just want to continue to draw in great students and parents and industry members to the team and build on the reputation that we've already created here," Willey said. "We have great staff members and great team members who have helped catapult this program to the best in the nation. We're recognized as a place where students can come and be part of something bigger than themselves and also create a future for themselves as well as future generations. It's about building a legacy."
Willey utilizes tradesmen he knows from the field to provide specialized training such as Computer Aided Drafting (CAD).
Willey said he believes every student deserves multiple chances to succeed. He guides and supports his students through difficult situations. He holds them accountable and teaches them to learn from good and bad experiences. He helps them to grow personally and in their chosen career paths.
Students from the Tri-Rivers Construction Trades Academy have been active in the community, completing numerous service projects in Marion County, including building the activities pavilion at the Marion Senior Center. CTA has been recognized for that project when it was chosen as the recipient of the 2021 Community Service Award presented by the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
“David Willey has not only built the best construction program in Ohio, but he has built strong young men and women,” Tri-Rivers Superintendent Charles Speelman. “We − students, staff, administrators, community members − couldn’t be more thankful that he chose to leave his very lucrative career to become a teacher. What he has done and continues to do is priceless.”
It's already been a big year for Willey. In March, he was honored as member of the Tri-Rivers Career Center Outstanding Alumni class of 2023. Willey was one of six people inducted into that group who are enshrined on the Alumni Wall of Fame at the school.
Each year, the LifeChanger of the Year program receives hundreds of nominations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To be considered for an award, nominees must be K-12 school or district employees who make a positive difference in the lives of students. Award winners are selected based on the following criteria:
Make a positive impact in the lives of students
Enhance their school or district’s atmosphere, culture and pride
Demonstrate exemplary leadership at the school and/or district level
Possess a proven record of professional excellence
Show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning
Adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards
To learn more, visit the website www.lifechangeroftheyear.com.
For information about Tri-Rivers Career Center and the programs it offers, go to its website tririvers.com.
Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Life changer: Tri-Rivers' David Willey honored for work with students
