LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Billy Carroll was nominated by his spouse, Tracey Carroll.

Although Mr. Carroll wears many “hats” during the school year, he primarily serves as the engineering instructor at the Moss Point Career and Technical Education Center (MPCTE). He has been employed by the Moss Point School District (MPSD) since August 2008. MPSD is located along the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast in Moss Point, MS.  Since 2008, Mr. Carroll has demonstrated the ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students, create a positive school atmosphere, provide leadership within the school, perform at a professional level, produce a nurturing atmosphere, and adhere to high moral and ethical standards. 

BENEFICIAL DIFFERENCE

Mr. Carroll is the instructor of the very first engineering program in MPSD. The MPCTE Engineering program was established in August 2015. Nine students were enrolled in the STEM cohort.  During the 2021–2022 school year, enrollment climbed to 48 students.  Learners have the option to enroll in the Principles of Engineering class in the ninth grade, Engineering I class in the 10th grade, Engineering II class in the 11th grade, and the Ingalls Shipbuilding Academy in the 12th grade.  Upon completion of the STEM cohort, students have an opportunity to earn high school science credit, college scholarships, SolidWorks CSWA certification, a full-time job at Ingalls Shipbuilding, and/or college credit for STEM-related courses with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

The MPCTE Engineering program was selected as the Most Outstanding Program in Mississippi by the Mississippi Association for Career Technical Education (MSACTE) during the 2018–2019 academic school year. More recently, the MPCTE Engineering II students had a 100% pass rate on the Engineering I MS-CPAS during the 2020–2021 academic school year!  The MS-CPAS is the test given to secondary MPCTE completers, and the results are used to measure technical-skill attainment, which is one of the core indicators of performance required for Perkins IV reporting.  As a result, the MPCTE Engineering Year 1 program ranks #6 in Mississippi. 

In addition to serving as the 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 around $90,000 in grants to support the 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.

For example:

• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never flown a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). He purchased the first UAVs in the district, possibly even the state, to teach students about drones and how to operate them safely. 
• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never used a 3D printer. He purchased the very first 3D printer in the school district to teach students about CAD (Computer Aided Design) and 3D modeling.
• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never been on a boat. He wrote a grant to take his students on a boat excursion and tied it to the curriculum by having students learn about watershed environments and conduct water sampling. 
• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never been to an aquarium. He wrote a grant to take his students to the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies and tied it to the curriculum by having students learn about pollution and how it impacts our ecosystem.
• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never been to NASA. He wrote a grant to take his students to the Stennis Space Center and tied it to the curriculum by having students learn about Engineering structures and the International Space Station.
• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never designed, constructed, and launched a model rocket. He wrote a grant to purchase Estes model rocket kits to teach students about model rocketry. As a result, the Moss Point STEM Team competed in their first rocket competition in 2017!
• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never designed and constructed an underwater drone. He's currently writing grants to purchase the equipment, software, and supplies needed to teach students about underwater drones.  As a result, the Moss Point STEM team won 3rd place in the 2018 SeaPerch South Challenge at Mississippi State University!
• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never designed, constructed, and programmed a robot. He wrote a grant to purchase TETRIX robotic kits and programming software to teach students about robotics.  As a result, the Moss Point STEM team won second place in the state robotics competition at Mississippi State University in 2014. The team won first place in 2015!
• Most of Mr. Carroll’s students have never designed, constructed, and proof-tested a balsa wood model bridge.  He wrote a grant to purchase the equipment, CAD software, and supplies needed to teach students about model bridge design. As a result, the Moss Point STEM team won first place in state bridge-building competitions at Hinds Community College from 2015-2019. They won second place in the national competition in Baltimore, MD!

Research suggests that the jobs with highest demand in the future will be in STEM-related careers.  Exposure to these STEM-related activities will make a beneficial difference in the lives of students by helping them develop a bigger picture of STEM-related careers and empowering them to create a vision for their future.        

SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE

Mr. Carroll served on the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Committee in 2012.  It was the first program of its kind in the district. As a committee member and eventual committee chair in 2015, Mr. Carroll was tasked with the responsibility of creating a positive MPCTE 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. To this day, he's intentional about creating a positive classroom atmosphere:

• Points are awarded each day to students who modeled the desired behavior. Awards are given each Friday to the student who earned the most points. 
• At the end of each quarter, students with the most points earn a bigger prize, like a free tablet.
• Students are selected for “Engineering Student of the Month” based on how well they model desired behavior in the classroom. Selected students receive a certificate and a free meal coupon from McDonald's.

To fund these efforts to create a positive classroom atmosphere, Mr. Carroll writes grants.      

LEADERSHIP

Mr. Carroll began working in MPSD in August of 2008.  Since that time, he had many opportunities to provide leadership within his school and district. Below is a listing of his at the school and district leadership roles:

• 2019-present - Coach of the first eSports team
• 2015 - PBIS Committee Chair
• 2014-present - DonorsChoose Regional Ambassador for the district; ClassDojo district-wide mentor
• 2012-2018 - School Lead Teacher
• 2012-present - Coach of the Moss Point STEM Team
• 2012-2014 - PBIS Commitee Member
• 2009-present - Volunteer for the Junior Achievement program
• 2009-2019 - Volunteer at the AT&T Aspire Mentoring Program
• 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014 - School Teacher Mentor
• 2009, 2012-2014 - Member of the MPSD Superintendents Advisory Committee
• 2008-2012 - Member of MPSD Technology Committee

Not only has Mr. Carroll been very instrumental in providing leadership in his school and district, but he has also gone above and beyond by providing leadership in his community. Mr. Carroll has served his community as:

• Coach of Biloxi Youth Baseball and Football teams, as well as Biloxi Soccer Organization teams
• Board Member of the Pentecostals of the Gulf Coast, Biloxi Soccer Organization, and Biloxi Youth Baseball Organization
• Youth Leader of the Pentecostals of the Gulf Coast
• Volunteer for the Jackson County 4-H
• Volunteer for the Building a Grad Nation Project in 2010 with Alma Powell, the wife of General Colin Powell. 

PERFORMANCE

Mr. 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 Specialist's 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. All of Mr. Carroll’s students passed the 2020–2021 MS-CPAS2 (Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System) state test in Engineering I.  As a result, his program ranks sixth out of 46 engineering programs in Mississippi.

Below is a listing of professional awards Mr. Carroll has received:

• 2021 - ITEEA Teacher Excellence Award
• 2020 - MPSD CTE Teacher of the Year
• 2019 - Jackson County Excellence in STEM Education Award; William Dahlgren Teacher of Excellence Award
• 2018 - Most Outstanding CTE Program in Mississippi; Jackson County Chevron Maker Contest Winner; SeaPerch South Challenge State Finalist
• 2017 - Mississippi State Award Winner in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest for inspiring students, improving local communities and fostering STEM education in school.
• April 2016 - Leo W. Seal Innovative Teacher Award from Hancock Bank. Mr. Carroll was one of 12 South Mississippi teachers who were honored for using innovation in the classroom. The teachers earned $2,000.00 to help pay for projects that will bring school subjects to life and mold students into well-rounded adults.
• May 2015 - Toolbox for Education from Lowe’s for his dedication to improving his school. As part of this award, Mr. Carroll won a $4,150 grant.
• 2014 - Mississippi State Finalist for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest
• October 2013 - MPSD Dream Catcher Award for his hard work and dedication to the students and staff
• March 2012 - MPSD Employee of the Month

Below is a list of other grants Mr. Carroll has received: 

• DonorsChoose Projects - $23,151 from 2012 thru Present
• Chevron STEM Grant - $10,000 in 2013
• Ingalls STEM Grant - $8,146.00 in December 2014 and $5,000 in December 2013
• Mississippi Power Environmental Grant - $300.00 in 2016
• Mississippi Recycling Grant - $1,000.00 in 2014
• NHN Community Grant - $1,195.00 March 2016 and $1,400.00 in August 2014
• Northrop Gruman STEM Grant - $1,000.00 September 2016 and $1,250.00 in January 2014

Below is a list of awards Mr. Carroll's students have won:

• 2017 - National Transportation and Civil Engineering Competition, Second Place
• 2015-2019 - MDOT Bridge-Building State Competition, First Place
• June 2015 - 4-H Robotics Competition, First Place
• June 2014  - 4-H Robotics Competition, Second Place
• October 2012 - Blue Award – 4-H Robotics Competition at the State Fair, Blue Award

Commitment to producing a nurturing atmosphere

Mr. Carroll has made a firm commitment to producing a nurturing classroom atmosphere.  In the classroom, he recognizes student birthdays at the end of each month with a song and cupcakes!  Students who model positive classroom behavior are also recognized each month by being selected at the Robotics Engineering Student of the Month.  Mr. Carroll also promotes a nurturing classroom atmosphere by communicating with parents at least once a week.  When students miss class, Mr. Carroll immediately messages the parent to check on the well-being of each student.  He has a very good rapport with each of his students.  A day in his classroom is filled with smiling faces and laughter.  Mr. Carroll has not had to refer a single student to the office this school year. He truly cares about each of his students.  He even purchased shoes for one of his students that were in need.

Adherence to high moral and ethical standards

"Mr. Carroll strictly adheres to high moral and ethical standards," said Carroll. "He's always at work, and he continually seeks professional development to assist him in becoming a better teacher.  He does not entertain gossip and always conducts himself in a very professional manner. Mr. Carroll isn't the type of educator who “hangs around the water fountain” at work. He's well-respected by his colleagues.  When people need help, he is their “go-to guy”.  He always offers to lend a hand.  If it wasn’t for Mr. Carroll, many new and even seasoned teachers would have a very difficult time performing their jobs. Need computer help? Call Mr. Carroll. Dealing with a student with behavioral problems? Call Mr. Carroll. Having a bad day at work? Call Mr. Carroll."