Ms. Chalmers Honored by School Board

At the March school board meeting, BW Principal Rich Mertens honored English teacher Ms. Carnetta Chalmers. In recognizing Ms. Chalmers, he made the following comments:

On any given day at Belleville West, you’re likely to find that Carnetta Chalmers is one of the first people in her classroom.  And if you check that room again when you’re leaving in the afternoon (or the evening), you’re likely to find that she’s one of the last people to leave the building.  Carnetta would never call attention to this, but the hours she spends at school every day are a testament to her hard work, her commitment to the school, and her dedication to her students.

Carnetta runs a rigorous classroom and maintains high expectations; her students respect her and look forward to her class.  She is a strong presence in the English department, graciously sharing ideas and materials with fellow teachers, mentoring new staff members, guiding student teachers, and working with district team members to develop curriculum.

When members of the Belleville West community think of Carnetta Chalmers, though, they cannot help but think of the Harambee organization.  This multicultural organization, which Carnetta founded in 1997, has grown steadily since its inception.  This year, the group boasts a membership of more than 200 students.  Each year, the group presents an educational show during Black History Month (which was so popular this year that the students performed before a sold-out auditorium and will present an encore performance in April), hosts a Soul Food Day for West students, travels to feeder schools, participates in the Belleville Racial Harmony program, collects toys for area children at Christmas, prepares an act for the BW Shakespeare festival, and travels to historically and culturally significant locations such as Washington D.C., Atlanta, and Detroit.

Angel Riley, one of this year’s Harambee student leaders, has this to say about Carnetta:  Through Harambee, Ms. Chalmers has inspired numerous students to be the best they can be in the classroom and the community.  She teaches the students in Harambee that hard work is the substance of all greatness and that anything can be achieved if we “All Pull Together.”

Angel continues, On a personal note, Ms. Chalmers is one of the sweetest individuals I have known.  She is always willing to put others before herself so that the great destinies of those people come to fruition.  Ms. Chalmers is dedicated to helping the next generation prosper, and she works day and night with no complaints.  I have never known someone to be at school as much as Ms. Chalmers.  But she always says that “There is much work to be done.”

With her incredible commitment, with the care she shows for her students, and with her powerful vision, Carnetta inspires all those around her.  Thank you, Carnetta Chalmers, for everything that you do for your students, for Belleville West, and for the community.