Federal Way Public Schools Alumni of Note
Chris Carrel
Communications and Grant Coordinator, City of Federal Way
Decatur High School
Graduate, Class of 1982
You never know where your high school teachers will turn up. Once you graduate, you don’t think you’ll ever see them again, but that wasn’t the case with this notable graduate.
When Chris Carrel, a Decatur graduate, interviewed for the job of executive director of the Friends of the Hylebos in Federal Way, one of his former high school teachers, John Metcalf, was on the Hylebos board.
“If he had known when he founded the organization that some day I’d be the executive director, he would have either been thrilled or he would have cried,” Carrel mused.
Luckily Metcalf and Carrel shared a good relationship, and Carrel got the job, which he held for ten years.
“John Metcalf was a real inspiration to me, not so much in the classroom, but because outside school he was active in the community,” says Carrel. “He showed me the importance of putting your money where your mouth is and not just talking the talk, but actually doing the work.”
After more than 10 years, Carrel left his post at Friends of the Hylebos. These days, he serves as communications and grant coordinator for the City of Federal Way’s first elected mayor, Skip Priest.
Inspired by TeachersBesides being motivated and inspired by John Metcalf who was active with the Hylebos, Fusion and other Federal Way community activities, Carrel gives credit to Betty Payne, his English teacher at Decatur, for giving him confidence in his writing.
“She thought I might be able to write,” says Carrel, who did work as a freelance writer before coming on board with Friends of the Hylebos. “She was the first teacher who really treated me and my friends as adults, as people who had opinions that were worth listening to and she joked with us like we were regular people.”
Advice for Teachers and Students
Carrel says that he believes teachers should treat each kid as an individual.
“Everyone has one gift to give the world and the teachers that made a difference for me were the ones that helped me unwrap that gift,” Carrel concluded.
As far as advice for students, Carrel encourages them to get involved in a community organization – one that is working to improve the community. That way, they will learn skills needed in college and in their professional lives. “Besides making contacts, students can make a difference,” Carrel says.
Carrel was also named 2007 Alumnus of the Year at Highline Community College. Read more about that honor at http://www.funds4highline.org/distalums/carrel.htm.