Warren County Schools

From left to right, Dr. Ray V. Spain, Superintendent, Melda Smith, Principal, William Hendrickson, Teacher of the Year, and Dr. Frank Polakiewicz, Executive Human Resources Director

In just his first year of teaching at Warren New Tech High School (WNTHS), science teacher William Hendrickson has been named Warren County Schools' Teacher of the Year.

A native of Pinetops, Hendrickson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at East Carolina University.

"Education has always been important to my family," he said. "It was never a question of whether I (would go) to college, but where I would go."

With this family background - his grandmother on his father's side of the family taught in a one-room schoolhouse west of Dodge City, Kan. - it only seems natural that he would develop a desire to learn as much as he could.

"I was always inquisitive and always worried my teachers with one more question," Hendrickson said.

He became involved in peer mentoring and substitute teaching as he tried to decide if teaching was the career for him. His choir director, the assistant superintendent of Edgecombe County Schools, introduced him to the lateral entry program that allows people without degrees in education to enter the teaching field.

Hendrickson went on to earn his Master's of Education degree in Science Education with a focus on Chemistry and Physics at North Carolina State University. His coursework toward a teaching certificate included further study at East Carolina as well as classes at Disney University, an offshoot of the University of Florida.

This coming school year, Hendrickson will work to renew his National Board Certification, a process that goes beyond what is required for teaching certification.

Now in his 13th year of teaching, he has taught in the Edgecombe County Schools as well as Nash/Rocky Mount Schools. Hendrickson has also taught freshman chemistry for chemistry majors and non-majors and freshman physics for engineering majors at N.C. State.

As a high school teacher, Hendrickson has taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth/Environmental Science, Physical Science, and Advanced Placement Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

As a teacher, he wanted to use concepts he learned in foreign language classes to help students become more interested in science.

"A lot of students' outlook on science is that it is dry and boring," Hendrickson said. "I love foreign language classes. ... Foreign language is called aerobic exercise for the mind. It opened up a whole new world and broadened my horizons."

In making the decision to come to WNTHS, Hendrickson was interested in Warren County Schools' efforts to improve high school education.

"When I saw (the school) in action, I knew that was the place where I wanted to be," he said. "...Technology is a nice perk, but it was not technology that drew me to the school. It was the whole mindset to do things differently and do things better."

At WNTHS, Hendrickson began a Student Academy of Science, with students participating in the First Annual Science Fair and competing in school, regional and state science fairs. Students also participated in the Junior Science Humanities Symposium and Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS).

The local JETS group finished second in state teams competition this past year. Next year, Hendrickson hopes to organize a National Science Honor Society.

"We are on the verge of something special there in New Tech," he said. "I can't wait for the new year to start. I look forward to (seeing) what students can do."

Hendrickson described WNTHS as a family working together with students helping each other succeed.

"Everybody sees every child as full of potential," he said.

Hendrickson tries to instill in his students one of the favorite sayings of his mother, who died of cancer during the past school year.

"My mother's saying was 'If you don't try for it, you won't get it,' " he said. "I want that to be my mother's legacy."

Hendrickson also wants to see all of the local schools working together to improve education.

"In the end, we are not just New Tech, Warren County Middle ...," he said. "We are Warren County Schools. We must work together to benefit students."

Hendrickson felt humbled in receiving the Teacher of the Year honors.

"I felt very unworthy," he said. "Others had been there longer. ... I am thankful to the entire Warren County Schools family for their support and look forward to working with them for a long time to come."

Other participants in the Warren County Teacher of the Year competition include the following: Gail Coleman, Mariam Boyd Elementary School, first runner-up; Raegan Ross, Vaughan Elementary School, second runner-up; Ethel Alston, Northside Elementary School; Michael Hawkins, South Warren Elementary School; Blair Davis, Warren County Middle School; Janet Dunderdale, Warren County High School; and Elizabeth Shearin, Warren Early College High School.


Article taken from The Warren Record – 6/17/2009
Luci Weldon, Assistant Editor