Tri-Rivers Career Center instructor honored with Life Changer of the Year Award

David Willey, the director of the Construction Trades Academy at Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion, has received nationwide attention after being awarded the Life Changer of the Year Award.

The beloved instructor was honored at a ceremony recently at Tri-Rivers’ campus. He was presented with a plaque to commemorate his recognition as a grand prize finalist, and also received $5,000 in prize money that will be shared with the school.

The National Life Group runs the Life Changer of the Year Award program to honor educators and other school district employees who go beyond the call of duty for their students. National Life Group is a financial services company that serves K-12 workers around the country.

David Willey grew up in Prospect, Ohio, and pursued a career in the construction industry like his father. He was very touched at being selected to be a recipient of the award, as well as seeing all his students from the Construction Trades Academy at the ceremony in the Tri-Rivers Gacque Auditorium. 

He was quoted in an article from the Marion Star talking about his work as a teacher, and what the award means to him, saying, "This means everything. It means how important the kids are and how important giving back to the community is," Willey said. "Hard work and dedication to the students and the time that I've spent is recognized. I'm surprised by it. I didn't even think it was a possibility. I don't feel quite deserving of it, but I try my best every day to do a good job. I love my students and the school, the community, and I want to do what's best for them."

Willey graduated from Tri-Rivers back in 2000, and became an instructor there during the 2017-18 academic year after being a foreman and commercial carpenter. He shifted career paths after feeling a calling to share what he knew with the next generation of construction workers and carpenters.

The Construction Trade Academy program has grown under Willey’s leadership from around 20 students between the two programs to more than 100 students in the Construction Trades Level 1 and Level 2 programs.

He spoke about hoping to continue the trend, saying, "We just want to continue to draw in great students and parents and industry members to the team and build on the reputation that we've already created here," Willey said. "We have great staff members and great team members who have helped catapult this program to the best in the nation. We're recognized as a place where students can come and be part of something bigger than themselves and also create a future for themselves as well as future generations. It's about building a legacy."

Willey also leverages his contacts in the industry to provide his students with specialized and practical training in skills like Computer Aided Drafting. This is because of his belief that his students deserve as many chances to succeed as he can give them. He believes in guiding his students through difficult situations but also holding them accountable while teaching them from good and bad experiences. He wants to help them grow as construction workers and people.

Through his leadership, students from the Tri-Rivers Construction Trades Academy have been active in the community, doing many service projects in Marion County, such as being responsible for building the activities pavilion at the Marion Senior Center. The Construction Trades Academy has itself been recognized for its good work in the community when it was chosen to receive the 2021 Community Service Award from the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc. for its work on the activities pavilion. 

Charles Speelman, the Superintendent at Tri-Rivers, spoke highly about Willey’s work, saying, “David Willey has not only built the best construction program in Ohio, but he has built strong young men and women. We − students, staff, administrators, community members − couldn’t be more thankful that he chose to leave his very lucrative career to become a teacher. What he has done and continues to do is priceless.”

Willey has already been honored this year: last month he was named as a member of the Tri-Rivers Career Center Outstanding Alumni class of 2023. He was one of only six people inducted into the group, and is enshrined on the Alumni Wall of Fame at the school.

Every year, the Life Changer of the Year program sees hundreds of nominations from around the country. In order to be considered for the award, nominees have to be K-12 school or district employees who have made a positive effect on the lives of their students. Award winners are selected based on a set of criteria: they adhere to the highest ethical and moral standards, show commitment to creating a nurturing environment at encourages learning, possess a proven record of professional excellence, demonstrate a high level of leadership at the school or district level, enhance the school or district’s pride, culture, and atmosphere, and make a positive impact in the lives of their students. 

More information about the Life Changer of the Year Award can be found on its website.

More information about Tri-Rivers Career Center can be found at the school’s website.