A different kind of film festival. Woke up with the same sign-goes-up-anxiety as I have felt for the last 12 years. Even though there’s only 6 letters in SONOMA, I’m always worried that something might go wrong (students don’t show up, the letters break after drunk tourists try to [...]
Are you following the drama? Did you attend the school board meeting waving your “John Kelly is a poo poo head” sign? Are you irate that there is talk of closing your fav elementary/middle/charter school? Well guess what, Sonoma Valley Unified is just like America and if we don’t [...]
I see you. When I roll across town twice a day on my trusty Schwinn Typhoon cruiser I have two rules, first is to wear the right clothing: balaclava, hoodie, mittens, down jacket, thick socks-no bad weather days just bad clothing choices. And second make eye contact, wave and [...]
Merry Christmas Sonoma peeps! And yes, I am still using that apparently-almost-cancelled phrase because Christmas magic will always be Christmas magic regardless of your religious beliefs or level of wokeness. So, long time no write. At least, long time no write this blog, no real reason, too busy, languishing, nothing [...]
I was too mad to speak at the funeral. Mad at Suzy for getting behind the wheel when drunk. Mad at Amanda for getting in the car of a friend who was drunk. Mad at our community for promoting drinking and not taking care of the youth who [...]
We can only do what we can do. I walked in to my classroom at 7:30 said good morning to the office manager and she immediately suggested a test. “You’re not sounding so great Walt.” She said. And it’s true, I’ve been fighting a sore throat since [...]
Do what you love and you’ll never work another day in your life. I mean, right? I’ve been telling students this for years but really, is it true? I love coaching and teaching which is why I’ve been doing it for 25 years but really, I honestly love Saturdays [...]
“But this old town just seems so hopeless. I ain't really sure, but it seems I remember the good times were just a little bit more in focus.” I always loved that Tom Petty could rhyme hopeless and focus. Miss you Tom. Maybe I’m just getting old, maybe things just kinda suck in the world right [...]
SEARCHING FOR JO JO Did you see Steve Kerr’s pre-game speech before Tuesday’s playoff game? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPvf5RgCU08 Of course you did, I showed it three times in class Wednesday because it is three minutes of the most impactful and succinct evaluation of where we are since Bill Nye torched the [...]
GP10 rules. And no, that’s not a misprint about my favorite fallen Golden State Warrior Gary Payton the second, it is the final grading period for Creekside High School where we break each semester into 5 periods. Grading Period 10 is the last five weeks of the year and while [...]
Walt Williams is in it for the money, that and the prestige that goes with 22 years of teaching in California high schools (he’s not the smartest tool in the shed). He firmly believes in more standardized testing and that fitting all students into the same box is really the answer. He strongly supports fracking and that climate change is a fantasy made up by hippie liberals, also that the military needs more funding and that schools should just stop whining.
Walt brings a lifetime of experience and energy to this new endeavor. He was the principal of the Arts and Ethics Academy in Santa Rosa for two years, and has spent the last 15 years engaging students in finding their paths at Creekside High School. He is the father of two and the husband of one and lives in Sonoma, California.
Walt is a skier; fly fisherman, wine tour bus driver, tennis player, and sometimes writer. He likes to dress up in front of lots of people and display large works of art around the community. His mantra is to work hard, create and love. Complex life, simple message.