Growing up, many individuals can recall special teachers who played significant roles in their lives.
New Albany High School Principal Dwight Carter aims to become that extraordinary educator for future students, following the lead of one of his favorite teachers.
Photo by Scott Cunningham
“For me, it was my third grade teacher, Mrs. Fanecki,” Carter says. “She was wonderful to everyone. She would come in early and stay after hours. She provided lunch, when needed, and cared for her students immensely.”
One instance with Mrs. Fanecki stands out for Carter and continues to be a part of a lesson he teaches today: a lesson in learning.
“She had a contest to see who could learn times tables the fastest, and the top three performers would get to go on a trip to Kings Island,” Carter says. “One day, she caught me using my hand, trying to cheat. I remember like it was yesterday. She straight up called me out for it. But instead of punishing me, she taught me how to study at home and use flash cards. I worked my tail off, and I got to Kings Island.”
From there, Carter felt called to plant the seed of success for future generations, an opportunity he knew he could best pursue through education.
“We, as educators, have the greatest level of influence on young minds,” Carter says. “We
Photo by Scott Cunningham
have to understand that influence and the responsibility that come with all of this. There has to be a love for helping people grow. That’s what it’s all about.”
From the delivery to the content and curriculum, the 22-year education veteran aims to develop four core skills for each student: creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication.
“I want to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong,” Carter says. “If the students feel valued, they’ll be engaged. They will be invested. They will achieve. It’s hard when you don’t feel like you belong, which is why I believe in creating a human connection with everyone – students, staff, community members. These are the people who can develop who they are and who they become.”
Carter’s first steps to achieving this dream began as he pursued a higher education at Wittenberg University. From there, Carter went on to hold teaching and administrative positions at various schools, including Gahanna Middle School South and Gahanna Lincoln High School.
Experiences at the high school level taught Carter the value of creating a proactive, but also friendly, bond with students.
“A couple seniors approached me during a Lunch on the Lawn event and said, “’Mr. Carter, can we have a dodgeball tournament against the staff?’” he says. “It was on. I wrote a ‘be there’ email and started stretching in my office. They beat us pretty bad, but I played three games. The teachers really stepped up, and it was so good for the kids, and definitely one of the highlights of the year – a simple impromptu dodgeball game.”
Community-wide togetherness is something Carter hopes to promote in New Albany. As a new member of the community, he says he was welcomed with open arms. This has shaped a great mental landscape in the second-year principal’s mind.
“There’s such a great deal of support for everyone to live at a high level,” he says. “The amount of parental involvement is amazing. The community involvement is fantastic. These people truly want to partner with the schools to make them the best. They bring in outstanding, highly successful and inspiring professionals to come speak and motivate.”
Combine the enthusiastic energy of the New Albany population with the emphasis on health, and you have a recipe for long-term success, Carter says.
Carter has an athletic career of his own, including a stint as a wide receiver in the football program and a hurdler during his time at Wittenberg. However, after sustaining a herniated disc and leg injury, he has toned down his workout regimen to promote more practical, everyday fitness.
“My wife introduced me to a trainer two years ago,” he says. “She would come home, excited after her workout, and I would just be there, watching TV. I realized that, in this busy time, health had taken a back seat. I, myself, needed to be teachable. That trainer had me doing exercises I had never done and pushed me out of comfort. I was used to benching and squats – the larger muscle exercises. He had me doing Crossfit and MMA-style workouts – higher, quicker reps, which were painful at first. I was exhausted, but feeling great.”
Carter lives in Pickerington and is looking for the proper timing and option to send him, his wife, Samantha, and their 2-year-old daughter “bundle of joy,” Gabrielle, to the New Albany area.
Outside of physical fitness, family life and professional endeavors, Carter is an avid reader, turning to creative thinking and educational pieces to challenge his thought process. However, the Bible is his all-time favorite mainstay.
“I like to cross reference stories and chapters throughout the book,” Carter says. “This has been a habit for more than 17 years now. Proverbs, Romans, the Gospels, letters written by Paul – they’re all deep, ancient pieces of wisdom that are applicable to every generation across time. I like to read stories about people who struggled while transforming into a better person, but did so against adversity.”
One verse that significantly stands out to him is Psalm 91:1.
“I went through a dark time, and this was actually given to me by a student,” Carter says. “The verse really resonated with me. It built a new foundation for my life and gave me a sense of purpose.”
Throughout his first year as principal at the high school, Carter faced a few difficulties, but was met with enthusiasm and optimism. As the community continues to embrace him, he looks forward to returning the favor and leading the youth of the city.
“It was a challenging year, but I used the time to get to know the people,” he says. “I remind myself and everyone around me, every day, to simply ‘be great.’ That’s my mantra. ‘How can I be greater than I was yesterday?’”
-Dwight Carter’s 4 Keys to Success
1) Be Relational – Early outlooks on life are shaped by life experiences with friends, family and educators.
2) Be Enthusiastic – Nothing great was achieved without enthusiasm.
3) Be Authentic – Kids will always sniff you out if you’re a phony.
4) Be Teachable – If you will learn, more opportunities will come. I don’t know everything, but I’m willing to learn and try new things.
Stephan Reed is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
