John Williams grew up in Arley, Alabama, in a family of teachers — music teachers, to be exact. Williams, however, had a slightly different interest.
After graduating from Auburn University in 2006 with a degree in fiber engineering, Williams took a circuitous route to his career in teaching. He worked for a while in Conway in the natural-gas industry for Schlumberger Limited. During that time, he also worked on a Master of Arts degree in teaching at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. He received that degree in 2011, specializing in secondary mathematics and sciences.
Williams taught mathematics and science for three years in the Sheridan School District before he came in 2012 to Bryant High School, where he now teaches engineering, aeronautic and space classes. Now 31, Williams is married to Stephanie Williams, the band director at Benton Middle School.
It is his work at Bryant High School that led to special recognition for Williams. He was recently named the Air Force Association 2014 High School Teacher of the Year for Arkansas; he also earned the local chapter (David D. Terry Jr. Chapter 253) designation for Teacher of the Year.
In October, Jerry Reichenbach of Jacksonville, who at the time was president of the Terry chapter and president-elect of the state association, presented both awards to Williams. Reichenbach was accompanied by his daughter, Ann Reichenbach, Terry chapter and state vice president of the association’s aerospace education committee; and Larry C. Louden of Hot Springs, who at the time was the state AFA president and president of Lewis E. Lyle Chapter 270 in Hot Springs.
According to information on afa.org, the Teacher of the Year awards are presented annually to the educator who has gone “the extra mile” to increase student interest in math, science and technology.
“It was a big surprise to me,” Williams said of the award from the Arkansas Air Force Association. “I didn’t see that one coming.
“We do a lot of cool stuff in these classes,” said Williams, noting that he is one of two teachers in the engineering and technology program at the high school. The Bryant School District also has similar programs for middle- and elementary-school students.
“We are very proud of John and his dedication to our students at Bryant High School,” said Jay Pickering, principal of Bryant High School. “During his tenure at Bryant High School, we have seen a tremendous growth in our engineering program. He is very well-deserving of this very prestigious award.”
Members of the local community have seen the work of the engineering and technology program at home football games, where students used an air cannon they designed and constructed to disperse T-shirts to fans in the stands.
Members of the greater public, and the Air Force Association, became more aware of the program in March when high school students in the aerospace class launched the Aether I capsule using a high-altitude helium balloon.
Williams said the capsule, which was designed and built by the students in the shape of a pyramid, climbed to an altitude of 80,000 feet and traveled at an average speed of 75 mph. The capsule was designed with a still camera, a video camera, a tracking device and an on-board flight computer that measured temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure.
Williams said the tracking system failed, but the capsule landed in an empty field near Marianna — approximately 100 miles from Bryant. He said there were instructions on the capsule for whom to notify if found, and the farmer did contact the engineering department, and arrangements were made to recover the capsule.
Williams said plans are already underway for the Aether II project.
Reichenbach said his daughter had seen a story on the Aether project on a local TV news broadcast and called his attention to it.
“I called Dr. Pickering, the high school principal, and asked him to submit Mr. Williams for the Teacher of the Year award,” Reichenbach said. “He did, and a committee selected him for the award.”
The Terry chapter of the AFA has invited Williams to a membership meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History. Reichenbach said Williams will bring some of his students “to show off their engineering accomplishments.” The public is invited to that meeting.
“Mr. Williams is a fine example of what we look for in a Teacher of the Year,” Reichenbach said.
Students in the Hornet Engineering and Technology (HEAT) program at Bryant High School are also involved in other projects, such as building robots and drones. Some students have even taken flying lessons after learning the basics on a flight simulator that is set up in the classroom. Some of the students also participate in robotics competitions.
Bryant High School is a Project Lead the Way school. PTLW is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum and teacher-training program.
For more information on the Bryant Hornet Engineering Program, visit engineering.bryantschools.com.