Carrie Gillette

PRESIDENTIAL HONORARY DEGREE

Carrie Gillette has been teaching special education math, science and workplace readiness skills at Weir High School in Weirton, WV, for 14 years.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University in 1994, and holds certifications in Elementary Education, Special Education Multi-Categorical, Autism, and Trauma in the Classroom. She was chosen as Weir High’s Teacher of the Year in 2020.

Gillette began her teaching career in Frederick, Maryland, where she taught fourth-grade special education at Hillcrest Elementary School. After returning to West Virginia, Gillette worked for Kanawha County School District, where she did pre-school-Kindergarten transitioning for special education students. The following year, in 1996, she moved on to Stonewall Jackson Jr. High School where she taught special education for the next two and a half years.

Gillette married her husband, Chris, in 1995. Together they have four children. The Gillettes are a true WVU family; both Mr. and Mrs. Gillette are alumni, as well as their oldest daughter, Elizabeth, who graduated from WVU in May of 2022 with a degree in Exercise Physiology. Their other children -- Chris, Elijah and Luke -- are all current students at WVU. Chris is a senior and is scheduled to graduate in the summer with a degree in Energy and Land Management. Elijah is a junior and is studying Industrial Engineering. Luke is a freshman and is studying Agricultural Business. The Gillettes have a tremendous love for WVU and its culture; they have even held football season tickets for the past 25 years.

Carrie Gillette has always loved learning and hopes to foster a love of learning with her students. She has spearheaded several new initiatives to get her students involved with a variety of hands-on learning opportunities. Some of these include a student-run coffee shop, horse therapy and class visits to Blue Stream Farms and Birch Creek Farms, where students learn about working on organic farms and growing produce through a combination of hydroponics and aquaponics.