Billy Carroll
Position: Robotics Engineering Teacher
School: Moss Point Career and Technical Education Center
School District: Moss Point School District
City, State: Moss Point, Mississippi
About the Nominee: Billy Carroll was nominated by a friend and former colleague, Nikki Cunningham.Although Mr. Carroll wears many hats during the school year, he primarily serves as the Robotics Engineering Instructor at the Moss Point Career and Technical Education Center. Mr. Carroll has been employed by the Moss Point School District (MPSD) since August 2008. MPSD is located in Moss Point, MS. It's a Title I school district that serves 2,273 students, 96% of which qualify for free or reduced priced lunch. MPSD students face many challenges and do not have the same opportunities as other students in more affluent school districts. In spite of these challenges, Mr. Carroll has demonstrated the ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students, add to the development and production of a positive and nurturing school atmosphere, provide leadership within the school, perform at a professional level and adhere to high moral and ethical standards.In addition to serving as the Robotics Engineering instructor, Mr. Carroll is the founder and coach of the Moss Point STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Team. The MP STEM Team is the first academic-based team in the district, but it faces financial difficulties. To overcome this dilemma, Mr. Carroll began writing grants. Since 2012, Mr. Carroll has written and received over $53,000.00 in grants to support the Robotics Engineering program and the MP STEM Team. The funds from these grants have been used to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students.Mr. Carroll also served on the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Committee. It was the first program of its kind in the district. As committee member and eventual committee chair, Mr. Carroll was tasked with the responsibility of creating a positive school atmosphere. Intrinsic rewards were implemented to reinforce desired student and teacher behavior. To fund the PBIS program, Mr. Carroll wrote a grant to start the first toner/inkjet recycling program in the district. Proceeds from the sale of the recycled products were used to purchase PBIS rewards. As the only member that has remained on the PBIS Committee from the time it started in 2012 until 2015, Mr. Carroll has made a firm commitment to producing a positive and nurturing atmosphere.Mr. Carroll began working in MPSD in August 2008. Since that time, he has provided strong leadership within his school and district. For example, Mr. Carroll served as the:• School Lead Teacher since 2012• ClassDojo District Wide Mentor since 2014• School Teacher Mentor in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014• Member of the MPSD Superintendents Advisory Committee in 2009, 2012-2014• Member of MPSD Technology Committee from 2008-2012Mr. Carroll has a record of excellent performance at the professional level. He has earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, a Master’s Degree in Education, a Specialists Degree in Leadership and is currently working on his dissertation to earn a Doctorate in Administration while maintaining a 4.0 GPA at the Doctorate level. Every one of Mr. Carroll's students passed the MS-CPAS2 (Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System) state test in Engineering. As a result, his program scored 3rd out of 46 Engineering programs in Mississippi. In 2016, twelve South Mississippi teachers were honored for using innovation in the classroom. Mr. Carroll, was one of the recipients. The teachers received the prestigious Leo W. Seal Innovative Teacher Award.Mr. Carroll strictly adheres to high moral and ethical standards. He is always at work and continually seeks professional development to become a better teacher. He does not entertain gossip and always conducts himself in a very professional manner. Mr. Carroll is not the type of educator who “hangs around the water fountain” at work. He is well respected by his colleagues. When people need help, he is their “Go-To Guy.” Ms. Cunningham states that if it wasn’t for Mr. Carroll, she would not be where she is today. Her former colleagues would have a difficult time performing their jobs. Many students have been able to experience things for their very first time in Mr. Carroll's class, and that's why he's a LifeChanger!
[nominee_videos nominee_email="bjcarroll@mosspointschools.org"]