Bill Conger Named January Teacher of the Month at DWS

January 25, 2019
By: DWS seventh grader, Brynn Harvey

As many know, our January Teacher of the Month is none other than our guidance counselor, Mr. Bill Conger. As a student in seventh grade who only joined DWS two years ago, I immediately wanted to know more about Mr. Bill, who has worked at DWS from the time I was born in 2006. My brain can only wonder what he has been faced with over the years with hundreds of students. So, I conducted an interview with him.

Brynn: What inspired you to become a counselor?

Conger: About 20 years ago I was a news reporter/anchor at WSM AM radio in Nashville when a call came across the police scanner with the code for an armed robbery. Excited, I hopped in the news van with my tape recorder and headed to Jefferson Street Pawn Shop in downtown Nashville. I rushed over to the police crime scene tape and scoped out the situation. About 20 feet from the pawn shop door, I saw a dead body covered by a sheet. For most of my news career, I had been fortunate to not cover many in-person hard crime stories. When the police spokesman came over to the reporters to fill us in on the details, he mentioned that the deceased was a 14-year-old boy who the shop owner had gunned down as the kid ran from the robbery. I fulfilled my job and called in a report to the station. My excitement and adrenaline, though, were replaced with a desire to do more than write a quick 30 second news story and instead be able to prevent another child from ending up in this same situation or in other life-altering circumstances.

Brynn: What is the most fun thing about your job?

Conger: One of the things I love the most about my job is acting like a kid. I enjoy making funny faces and doing character voices to make learning fun, especially during class time with the elementary aged students. Sometimes I cut up more than the kids do.

Brynn: What is the hardest thing you have done in your job?

Conger: That’s a tough question to answer. Helping students through a crisis situation, especially if it involves harming one’s self is difficult. Hearing a child disclose about an abusive situation and getting him/her the help they need is also hard. Going to the funeral home where a crucial person in a student’s life has passed away is also heart-wrenching. Did I provide sufficient information and encouragement for students to make solid decisions that prevented them from making decisions, whether major or minor, that kept them from following a detrimental path? My heart’s desire is for every student who I’ve encountered to have a healthy, productive safe life full of love, strong social/emotional skills with the motivation to reach their complete potential.

Brynn: What other projects have you worked on outside of school?

Conger: I love to perform with the worship band at church. I started as a percussionist in high school and continued for a semester or two in college. A few years ago, I picked up the sticks again and started working on my chops for the drum set. Writing is another one of my passions. I spent ten years of my career as a country music news entertainment producer for CMT and shows on The Nashville Network. I thoroughly enjoy writing stories whether it’s about Garth Brooks or about our teachers and students for the school newspaper. The last few years I’ve been conducting interviews for a biography I’m writing on bluegrass icons, The Osborne Brothers. They’re the siblings that sang the U.T. theme song, “Rocky Top.” I continue to write for a variety of magazine and online sites. This semester I’m wrapping up my Ed.S degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Tennessee Tech. I believe the additional knowledge and skills will help me improve my counseling skills at school and the Haven of Hope as a part-time contract counselor.

Just as Mr. Bill stated, he loves being around kids, and the kids love being around him. While many people were very happy about Mr. Bill receiving the Teacher of the Month award, one special student was beyond thrilled to hear his name announced that January morning. Zoey Golson, a third grader at DWS, was so thrilled, she immediately started writing.

The following is her essay:

This is about why I think Mr. Bill got teacher of the month. The first reason I think he got teacher of the month is what he teaches, because he teaches things that you could use in the real world. Some people might think it’s boring when he teaches the same thing, but he does that so you don’t forget it in the real world.

The next reason I think he got teacher of the month is when he counsels people. That is because he helps a lot of kids get over issues, struggles, and life situations.

The third reason I think he got teacher of the month is because he is kind of a comedian. The reason I think that is because he makes kids laugh, and he makes up this fun voice.

The last reason I think he got teacher of the month is because he is like a friend, because he sometimes eats lunch with us. That is why I think Mr. Bill got teacher of the month.

While you can tell that the children love going to Mr. Bill’s class, what do his co-workers think? Ms. Amy Young, preschool teacher at DWS, sums it up with these words, “I love working with Mr. Bill, and have for the past ten years. He is so thoughtful to his co-workers and students. The word NO isn’t in his vocabulary when it comes to helping within the school and community. He has many talents and is always willing to learn new things! Some may not know he is a published author, having interviewed musicians and written the true inspirational book Rejoice in the Lord Always, The Jeff Hillman Story. Also, in his spare time, he is extending his education at TTU. Mr. Bill is truly an interesting friend to have around and is loved by all.”

January 25, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The County Commission Monday night gave formal approval of a resolution to apply for a $315,000 Community Development Block Grant to fund the purchase of a tanker truck for the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.

The CDBG program is administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and DeKalb County is eligible to apply under the CDBG Community Livability category including the three star bonus. If approved the county would be responsible for payment of a local grant match of 16% of the total project cost plus any additional funding required to complete the project beyond the grant amount.

The Upper Cumberland Development District would prepare all necessary documents for the completion of the grant application at no charge to DeKalb County. Should the grant be approved UCDD shall perform all administrative services for the project.

Part of the application process includes conducting community household surveys with randomly selected addresses in the areas served by the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department (all areas of DeKalb County outside the city limits of Smithville and Alexandria).

“The county gets to select a project to apply for through the CDBG program each year and this year we plan to apply for fire equipment and specifically our project is to add another tanker. We only have one tanker in the county. With the barriers and obstacles we have with water supply because we don’t have a lot of hydrants out in the county we really do have a dire need for another way to get water to the fire scenes in the rural parts of the county. Part of the application process is that we have to do these community household surveys. We are doing them by telephone and in person,” said County Fire Chief Donny Green.

The survey process takes less than 3 minutes and all information will be secure and not used for any other purposes.

“We want to make sure our residents understand that these surveys are legitimate and necessary for us to submit this grant application. We would greatly appreciate cooperation from those who are selected for a survey. The surveys will be conducted by telephone or personal visits. All surveys will be completed by DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department personnel who will be able to provide identification proving they are members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department. Anyone can also feel free to contact me at 615-464-7176 if they have any questions or concerns,” said Chief Green.

In other business, the commission reappointed County Fire Chief Donny Green and Assistant Chief Anthony Boyd as officers for another year.

January 25, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

In anticipation of winter weather Tuesday, the DCHS basketball games with Cannon County will be played Monday night, January 28 in Smithville instead of Tuesday night, as had been scheduled. Action will begin with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game.

Listen LIVE on WJLE for all the action with the Voice of the Tigers and Lady Tigers John Pryor.

Meanwhile DCHS will be in action tonight (Friday) at Watertown starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game. Listen LIVE on WJLE for all the action with the Voice of the Tigers and Lady Tigers John Pryor.

The remaining schedule is as follows:
Friday, January 25: Watertown*-Away 6 p.m.
Monday, January 28: Cannon County*-Home 6 p.m.
Friday, February 1: Upperman*-Away 6 p.m.
Tuesday, February 5: Macon County*-Home 6 p.m.
Thursday, February 7: Smith County*-Home 6 p.m.
Friday, February 8: Monterey-Home 6 p.m.

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