Shaping Our Youth: Jan Willey

BROWNSTOWN — Jan Willey knows how to hit the mark, both on and off the stage, a quality that has not gone unnoticed.

Willey, choral director for Brownstown Central High School, is the recipient of The Tribune’s Spirit of Freedom award in the Shaping Our Youth category.

Nominating her was Melinda Murry of Brownstown, who lauded Willey for choosing Murry’s son Mark, a freshman student with autism, for a substantial role in this spring’s production of “West Side Story.”

“Mrs. Willey led by example in accepting and encouraging this young man’s desire to be in the musical,” Murry wrote in her letter of nomination. “Her patience and understanding, as well as her sense of humor, set the stage for other performers to help him learn his lines, how to dance, and how to do the fight scenes. The support of the other cast members was amazing and touched the heart of a mom who had watched her son struggle to be accepted by his peers for many years.”

Willey said the student first had to audition for the role, the same as other cast members. Once he had the part, it was time to show what he could do.

“He came in there and proved he could do it as well as anybody else,” Willey said.

“He had a blast,” she added.

Murry concluded her nomination by pointing out that more than one student benefited from Willey’s actions.

“Not only did this particular student benefit, the entire student body of Brownstown Central High School learned by the example she set that just because others may be different, they are no less valuable and need to be given the same opportunity to excel as other students.”

Willey, looking down at her Spirit of Freedom plaque, had only words of praise for her fellow educators and for students who act on the opportunities they receive.

“Really, about all teachers should be getting this award,” she said. “They give kids a chance, but it’s up to them to get up and go with it. That’s about anything in life, I’ve found out.”

Willey, a Brownstown Central graduate herself, has been teaching for the local school system for 32 years. She received a bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University and a master’s degree from Indiana State University, and has taken several classes at Indiana University.

She is married to David Willey, and they have one son, J.D. Willey, and live in Brownstown.