Carrying Forward a Spirit of Hope
From 1998 to 2020, Carole served as Head of School at Briarwood and Tuttle. For more than two decades, she carried forward the founding vision of Yvonne Tuttle Streit, who established this school in 1967 so that children could learn in the way they learn best. With deep conviction, she ensured that our school remained a place where instruction was responsive, where teachers were highly trained, and where students were known personally.
Carole often referred to Briarwood and Tuttle as having a spirit of hope. She believed that when learning is unlocked, a student’s sense of dignity is restored, confidence is rebuilt, and doors that once felt closed begin to open. Teachers were encouraged to find each student’s strengths — what she called islands of competency — and to keep trying different approaches until learning clicked. Through that persistence and belief, futures were reshaped for countless students and families.
Warmth, grace, enthusiasm, and professionalism marked her leadership. Upbeat and genuinely interested in those around her, she was a natural connector, generous with encouragement and steady in her support. The potential she saw in students and teachers alike was often greater than they saw in themselves, and she had a gift for drawing out the best in others.
Her influence extended well beyond our campus. Deeply involved with the International Dyslexia Association, she served in leadership roles at both the local and national levels, including as President of the Houston Branch of IDA and later as a member of its national Board of Directors. She also served as President of the Houston Association of Independent Schools and remained an active voice in the LD school community throughout her career. Through conference presentations across Texas and the country, she contributed thoughtfully to the broader conversation around specialized education.
Most of all, her legacy lives within this community: in the leaders and teachers she shaped, in the students whose futures were changed, and in the enduring spirit of hope that remains woven into the fabric of Briarwood and Tuttle.
We are grateful for her leadership, her dedication, and the many years she gave to this school. We hold her family in our thoughts and prayers during this time.
With respect and gratitude,
Lisa Landi
Interim Head of School
The Briarwood School
Obituary
For those who would like to read more about Carole’s life and legacy, her full obituary can be found here.
We honor the life and legacy of Carole Wills, whose vision, compassion, and steadfast leadership shaped The Briarwood School and the lives of countless students and families. Mrs. Wills believed deeply in the potential of every child and in the power of a school community grounded in respect, perseverance, and love. Her impact will be felt for generations.
Gifts made in memory of Mrs. Wills will support the Carole C. Wills In Memoriam Fund, ensuring that Briarwood students continue to have access to the education she so passionately championed.
Donations may be made online here. Checks may be made payable to The Briarwood School and mailed to 12207 Whittington Drive, Houston, TX 77077. Please indicate “IMO Carole Wills” in the memo line.
For more information or to discuss additional giving options, please contact Penelope Khuri in the Advancement Office at 281-493-1070 ext. 117 or pkhuri@briarwoodschool.org.
We invite members of our community to share memories, reflections, and words of gratitude.
Reader interactions
23 Replies to “In Memory of Carole Wills”
Carol Wills helped shape the person I’ve become. As a high school student at Briarwood, she gave me the confidence to stand tall despite my dyslexia. She always encouraged me to advocate for myself and to ask for what I needed to succeed in any class.
It was at Briarwood, through the yearbook program, that I discovered my love for photography. Because Carol believed in me, I went on to study photography in college. And she continued to support that dream long after I graduated—welcoming me back to Briarwood to photograph school events, sports portraits, galas, and the portraits of every student and teacher.
Carol was more than a teacher or a Head of School to me. She was a mentor, a guiding light, and a dear friend. I will always be grateful for the belief she had in me and the encouragement she gave so freely.
I can’t remember Carole not ever being a part of my life. I was fortunate enough to grow up with Carole’s daughter, my sweet friend, Julie. As a child, I loved to go shopping with Julie and Carole. They loved to shop and Carole was always the fun mom! Carole was also my piano teacher for many years and I performed quite a few recitals in her living room. Carole was extremely talented and could do it all! Fast forward to graduation and Carole said give me a call whenever you move back to Houston because our speech department is growing. Nineteen years later, I am forever grateful to Carole for hiring me that day I moved home. I consider it a privilege and an honor to have worked for her all those years. Carole consistently modeled grace, patience, kindness, and respect for others with a sense of humor and perspective along the way. Always perfectly dressed with a smile on her face, Carole was an incredible mentor who will forever hold a special place in my heart. I will miss her deeply.
Carole was an extraordinary person who always chose to see the good in others. I shared so many moments with her—both laughter and tears—and each one reflected the depth of her compassion and dedication.
She welcomed families to Briarwood who arrived feeling lost and without hope for their child’s future. Through her encouragement and belief in every student, she helped restore that hope. Carole inspired students to believe in their own abilities and often reminded us all to “Trust the Process.” She firmly believed that just because a child learned differently did not mean they could not learn.
Families would often write to thank Briarwood for giving them their child back or for helping their child discover confidence in themselves. During her welcome speech each year, Carole loved sharing letters from families describing their Briarwood journeys. She took such pride in telling their stories of growth and success.
Carole touched the lives of so many people. I deeply respected and loved her, and she will be greatly missed.
Carole believed in the power of storytelling, and she told excellent stories – uplifting and encouraging stories, stories to teach a life lesson, stories to build connection and instill hope. Carole’s laughter and twinkling eyes were contagious as she shared funny stories about herself, her family, and the many many wonderful moments she had with students over the years. During the twenty years that I worked alongside Carole, I had the privilege of hearing many of Carole’s stories. My favorites were the ones in which Carole found herself in very unexpected or awkward situations, which she navigated with grace, kindness and compassion. She loved sharing the story of the geese, a leadership metaphor illustrating her belief in the importance of building a strong team, sharing a clear mission and vision, encouraging one another’s strengths, and providing support and assistance whenever someone needs a helping hand. This philosophy was evident in her school and community leadership and the positive culture she spread and modeled daily. Carole gave great speeches and was an excellent ambassador for Briarwood. However, some of her finest moments happened privately, behind the closed blinds in her office, sitting with an upset child, a hurting parent, a struggling teacher or administrator. In our most challenging moments, when we were hurting or uncertain, Carole was always there. Many of you can relate. As I grieve her passing this week, I find myself mentally going into Carole’s office. She would quickly get up and walk around her desk to give me the biggest hug, then sit beside me and say, “Tell me what’s going on.” With strong faith, kindness, trust, some laughter and a “can-do” spirit, we would figure it out together. Inevitably, before I walked out of her office, Carole would ask “Have you done any shoe shopping lately? Marmi’s is having a sale!” and I would walk away with a smile on my face, hope in my heart, and a clear plan of action.
Carole always gave credit to the Lord for her faith and abilities. I can see her now as she is welcomed home. “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” Matthew 25:21 We have all been blessed with the joy of having Carole Wills touch our lives and leave handprints of love. May we continue to live her legacy of kindness, positive leadership, and never-ending belief in the goodness of others.
Ms. Wills offered our family and our struggling student kindness, compassion, empathy, and support from the moment we walked through the doors at Briarwood. Her leadership and mantra of “trust the process” helped our son to first, reclaim his self-esteem, and then, reclaim his passion for learning. Ms. Wills was a bright light and a beautiful soul. We are forever grateful for having met and trusted her with our son’s education.
Carole Wills leaves behind a legacy that has touched the lives of so many families. We are deeply grateful to Briarwood and to Carole for carrying out the vision and mission that created such a special place for our children. She gave families like ours something truly invaluable — a community where children who see and experience the world differently are understood, supported, and encouraged to grow.
Because of her dedication, our children found a place where their confidence could flourish and their strengths could shine. Without Briarwood, and without Carole’s leadership and belief in this mission, the paths of so many children would look very different.
We are very thankful for the gift she gave our family. Her impact will continue to be felt for generations, and her legacy will live on in every child whose life was changed because of the community she helped build.
Carole Wills was a light to me through all my years at Briarwood. I was at that school from 1st grade all the way to 12th grade. She always believed in me and gave me the confidence in myself that a second mother would give. She’s gone, but not forgotten. Briarwood and Carole Wills are a beacon of hope for kids with learning difficulties. We always have a reason to keep living, and for me, a reason to keep moving forward.
Douglas Andreano
I remember at one of the events my dad asked Ms Wills where she was from. Her answer; little town of Silsbee TX. She babysat of one of dad’s friends children with special needs. She said she thinks that’s when her passion was ignited. How many times did we hear the trust the process speech! We did and are so Thankful! Our daughter Kate is now teaching special education.
I remember meeting Carole as a parent first. She welcomed myself and my husband into her office when we first came to Briarwood. She offered kindness, wisdom and support when we felt a little lost and we weren’t sure if Briarwood was what our daughter needed. We were so impressed with Carole’s personal touch and felt at such peace having Liana begin school at Briarwood. Several years later Carole supported me when I returned as a new teacher and always found time to chat. I admired her passion and ability to know each child and staff member. I can still see her standing at the main entrance welcoming the children in the morning. She was always visible in the hallways and the children loved her! I will miss her so much and can’t thank her enough for all she did for my family and myself as a parent and teacher. Carole was one of a kind and Briarwood’s staff and students were so blessed we had her for as long as we did!
I’m deeply sorry that Carole Willis passed away. She was an integral part of Briarwood. I was a part of briarwood only for high school. But I won’t forget the impact that Mrs. Willis as well as my long time Briarwood surrogate family made on me. We take so much time in society to talk about bad things, and rarely do we have a chance to honor someone who was a positive example on so many people’s lives. That secret playground that I liked to call Briarwood was more than just a group of people to me. In all seriousness, they are my best friends