[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9908]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   PAYING TRIBUTE TO PRINCIPAL JOHN WILLIAMS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
                   RETIREMENT FROM CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 26, 2017

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Principal 
John Williams on the occasion of his retirement. For the past forty 
years, Principal Williams devoted his life to providing an exceptional 
educational experience to students. In his 14 years at Carmel High 
School, there has been tremendous growth and continued improvement 
under Principal Williams' guidance. The people of Indiana's Fifth 
Congressional District are forever grateful for Principal Williams' 
commitment to educating the next generation of Indiana students to be 
knowledgeable, passionate, and active members of their community.
  As a lifelong Hoosier, born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, 
Williams began his own education by attending Harrison High School. 
Williams never intended to pursue a career in education. However, 
during college, after working with his high school wrestling coach, he 
realized his passion for developing young minds. He changed his major 
and after graduation was hired to his first teaching position at 
Harrison High School. He taught social studies and coached young 
athletes. After a number of years teaching, Williams decided to pursue 
his administrator's license, which led to a position as assistant 
principal at Harrison High School where he served the community for 
seven years. When the principal of Harrison High School retired, 
Williams was tapped for the role and led the school as the principal 
for three years. Then came the opportunity to move to Carmel High 
School.
  Principal Williams arrived at Carmel in 2003. During his time at 
Carmel High School, the student population grew from just under 4,000 
to more than 5,000. Principal Williams was influential in quadrupling 
the number of students taking AP courses, more than doubling the number 
of dual credit courses offered and introducing the International 
Baccalaureate program to the school in 2006. In addition to the 
increasingly high caliber academics, extracurricular activities such as 
sports and the arts have thrived as well, providing an excellent well-
rounded education to students. Carmel High School's excellence did not 
go unrecognized. Under his tenure, Carmel High School accumulated among 
too many championships to name, including, sixty-seven athletic state 
championships, consistently finished in the top ten of the Bands of 
America competition and graduated hundreds of National Merit and 
National Achievement Scholars. Principal Williams' sincere interest in 
the education and well-being of his 5,000 students can be seen through 
his accomplishments as well as his morning ritual of shaking hands and 
giving high-fives in the hallways.
  Principal Williams has made a remarkable impression on the lives of 
his students, faculty, and the Carmel community, He has truly left a 
legacy of success at Carmel High School that will be built upon for 
decades to come. On behalf of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District, 
I'd like to congratulate Principal Williams on his extraordinary career 
and extend a huge thank you for all the wonderful contributions he has 
made to our Hoosier community. While I know Principal Williams will be 
missed, I wish the very best to him and his wife Paula, his son Jared, 
his two daughters Katie Niles and Jessica Dedmond, his stepchildren 
Brandon Gregory, Andrea Gregory, their spouses, and grandchildren as he 
enjoys a well-deserved retirement.

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