The Impact of Engagement
When an attorney for Eli Lilly in Indianapolis married a professor and dean at the Indiana University School of Public Health in Bloomington, and decided to put down roots, the Center Grove community made geographical sense.
But for Antonio and Crystal Williams and their four young children, the choice to not only live in the area but also to join the Center Grove Schools community was a decision that stemmed from Center Grove’s commitment to academic excellence, community culture, and expansive opportunities.
“Our oldest is a seventh grader at Center Grove Middle School Central, and then we have two in Center Grove Elementary,” says Crystal, who also has a fourth child not yet school aged. “The things that they’re learning about in school have been foundational, but also innovative at the same time. We’ve had a great experience here.”
In addition to the academic success the district is known for, including a 99.57% graduation rate in 2025, the Williams family believes the opportunities to get involved in activities outside of the school day play an equally large part in what makes Center Grove special to their family.
“Some folks might see Center Grove as a little intimidating. But the reason why we feel good about being at a large school is even at the youngest level, from academic to sports, there are ways that the district engages those students,” Crystal says. “There’s a little league for almost every school sport, the Innovation Center, robotics, all those different clubs and programs. All of those things are very accessible from a young age.”
As a working mom of four, Crystal appreciates the variety of activities provided at Center Grove. The location is a bonus. When extracurriculars are at school, her children can make close connections with kids from their classes and Crystal doesn’t have to spend extra time driving kids across town for these opportunities.
“It allows me to be a great mom,” she says. “Just the way that they give you that runway into finding your own community here, whatever your child’s interest might be.”
For Williams and her husband, shuttling the kids to and from school and activities is not the only way they are engaged with the community. Crystal says she is a big believer in the idea that if you love something, you get involved, and that’s exactly what they try to do at Center Grove.
Crystal has served as a Center Grove Ambassador, which she says was a great introduction for her, as a new community member, to learn more about the school corporation. After that experience, she joined the Center Grove Education Foundation. As a board member with the Foundation, she was privy to all the innovative ways the children were learning and found it rewarding to support teachers with big ideas for engaging kids in new ways.
Most recently, Crystal served on the Center Grove Strategic Planning Committee as a community member and parent who had a seat at the table alongside administrators and educators. The committee worked to collect feedback from the community and develop goals and plans to steer Center Grove’s future for the next five years. Crystal worked on the Learn & Succeed Pillar, focused on students’ academic success.
“Something I’m very passionate about is exceptional academics and not just for one type of student, but for all,” she says. “That’s where I focused my energy, and it was just an amazing experience as a parent to be able to have a seat at the table right alongside other teachers, administrators, and even Dr. Long, who was part of my working group. I felt like I had a voice that was just as valued in shaping where we were going as a community.”
Crystal adds that the experience drove home the importance of partnership between parents, the school, and the community. That is part of the reason why, as a working mom, she does her best to get involved.
“My highest priority is my children, my family,” she says. “If there’s any way that I can help from a personal standpoint, also from a professional standpoint, to engage this great school system and give back to it, I’m gonna do it right.”
The Williams family supports their school community with purpose and intentionality, modeling their choices to get involved for their young children.
“I want them to see me in these hallways engaging with their staff and teachers so that they know that we’re part of this fabric as well. I want them to take ownership in the same way,” Crystal says. “Whatever success they want to achieve is achievable. That’s probably my favorite thing about this school system.”
Want to find out if Center Grove is the right fit for your student? You can request a private tour by visiting CenterGrove.k12.in.us/new-student-enrollment.
Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is open. Find more information by visiting CenterGrove.k12.in.us/enrollnow.
