William Jay from Henry Clay Elementary
It’s been more than 50 years since William Jay first stepped into a San Diego City school. He began kindergarten at Valencia Park Elementary, graduated from Morse High and now he’s back as a second grade teacher at Clay Elementary.After 20 years of service, mainly at NAS North Island and Miramar, Jay retired from the Navy in 1995 as Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic. While a lot of his peers and contemporaries were ready to retire and go off fishing or golfing, Jay thought there was more he could do. He believed that he ought to give back to his country, that he had a lot to offer and he wasn’t ready to simply fish or play golf. “I felt the young people today are going to be making the decisions governing my life when I’m older, and I want to make sure they make educated choices,” said Jay.
He got into teaching through the Troops to Teacher program, which helps retired veterans begin a new career as teachers in public schools where their skills, knowledge and experience are most needed. He earned his teaching credential in 1996 and began ‘subbing’ at San Diego City schools, including Valencia Park, Freese and Perry. Jay was offered a full-time position at Clay Elementary for the 1996-97 school year and has been teaching there since.
For Jay, working with students everyday is a reward. However, he was recently given another. Jay was named California’s Troops to Teachers Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
Jay says his career in the military prepared him for teaching. Both require teamwork, integrity and dedication. These values continue with him today and teaching allows him to model these qualities for his students.
“There are similarities between the Navy and teaching” says Jay. “You need the team work, camaraderie and collaboration and that open line of communication. Like in education, the military, you are not in the profession by yourself.”
He also gives credit to Peggy Lewis, who was his mentor teacher at Lindbergh/Schweitzer and showed him the ropes. He says he still takes a lot of the things he learned in her class and uses them today.
And it’s working. His principal, Shelagh Appleman, who nominated him for the Teacher of the Year award, says that during the past three years, she has continued to be impressed with the depth of caring and concern that Will has for his students. He continues to work many extra hours making sure that he knows and understands the latest teaching techniques that will serve the needs of his students.
“Will walks the talk. He sets the example for his students of what it means to achieve and then pushes them forward. His life is open for inspection as an example of success,” says Appleman. “He speaks from the heart about being a second language learner and the challenges that children with English as a second language face everyday. Will places his students’ feet on the road to success as early as second grade.”
A Chinese American with immigrant parents, Jay learned English by watching TV - Mickey Mouse Club and Captain Kangaroo. He was steered into education by his wife who encouraged him to volunteer 30 hours at Perry Elementary School, where she was an instructional aide.
This year is actually the second year that Jay was recognized by Troops to Teachers. Last year he was a semi-finalist. Jay is a resident of Rancho San Diego.
Troops to Teachers is a Department of Education program managed by the Department of Defense. There are more than 8,500 participants in the national TTT program. It was established by Congress in 1994 to offer retiring service men and women transition services including career counseling, certification guidance, and, in some cases, financial assistance.