Do you love democracy? Of course, you do, otherwise you would live in Saudi Arabia or North Korea or China. It makes sense that the people make the rules, that we elect our leaders, that we prioritize things by which things people feel strongest about. Are there frustrations? Of [...]
A year later. Well, that was something, and what a neat way to end the countdown, exactly one year ago it was Spring Break and I was planning a ski trip, midway through the boys tennis season, sad that SIFF 2020 was postponed and preparing for the final spring [...]
I’m not a huge fan of data or report cards. When UC Santa Cruz bagged traditional grades and went with teacher evaluations, I applauded. When they went back to grades in 2001, I understood the reasons but it’s kind of like America adopting the metric system. A better [...]
Pandemic golf is not like regular golf (no bunkers because you can’t rake the sand traps, masks and social distancing, no sharing clubs or balls or scorecards). But luckily, it’s also a lot like regular golf. Fun, healthy, relaxing, just what we need right about now. I rush from [...]
I am the solution. Yeah, I said it out loud and it’s time you started saying it too. Be the solution, get all Chevy Chase from Caddyshack, “Be the ball Danny, see the ball…” what do you want, it’s golf season in the year of Koyannisqatsi. Ambiguous Loss [...]
Gav-o, It’s the second week of February and I need your help. First to get back in the classroom or on the playing field I and my fellow coaches and teachers need vaccinations now, like pick up the Bat phone and call Sonoma Hospital today and tell them you [...]
Disco baby. It’s time, cause no one can be sad listening to the Ohio Players sing “Love Rollercoaster” while performing those sweet dance moves learned at Charlie Tuna’s Sunday night teen night circa 1979. Plus, the moves have now evolved through The Clash, Grateful Dead, and [...]
Change is tough, evolution is tough. We crave comfort and symmetry, knowing that things will be as we want them to be, as our parents said they would be. Education is a great example. The pandemic has made us question how to reset the playing field. Do grades matter? [...]
There's never an easy way to pay tribute to someone who passes way before their time. Ethan Cohen wrote this yesterday, much more powerful than I could ever write: Sophomore year of high school, Mr. Midgley was my football coach. I was a 15 year old drunk idiot who thought [...]
Koyaansiqatsi From December 2, 2016 “Donald Trump is a flaming shit bag. No, not because of the reasons you’re thinking (I can hear my editor now, “Sure, Walt, good luck trying to write your way out of calling the president a flaming shit bag.”) but because he is a [...]
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.