I’m wondering how Taylor Swift can change the world. It’s Saturday night and I lucked into a seat in row six, section 116 at Levis Stadium. There is only one word to describe what is going on all around and that is spectacle. Like, the foursome of 12-year-olds who [...]
Hey teachers! In the spirit of building bridges, I wanted to pass on a list of local arts programs, contact info and prices for your classroom: Sonoma Community Center: Ceramics, Culinary, Drawing/Painting, Fiber Arts, Performing Arts, Printmaking Contact: Lexi Baker, youth program director (707) 938-4626 x 826 lexi@sonomacommunitycenter.org [...]
The Sonoma Acai bowl is the winner. Thick berry smoothie on the bottom, homemade granola, Watmaugh strawberries, banana, blueberries, and some coconut mixture which Kate has created using her magic morning chef skills. Just the ticket for the final Saturday of the summer. And yes, I know it’s only [...]
7/13 and I’m thinking about KWL. This is day four of summer school for me and my 11 students this morning are busily working independently or following along on my journey to outline US History Semester 1 Unit 3 on the board. Summer school is always a challenge [...]
My final this semester in Physical Science was to plant seeds. Like literally, after a four-week unit on sustainability I brought in soil, pots and seeds and had students dig in the dirt (many for the first time). Course, I also had students prepare and present reports on their [...]
$ 6.4 Billion. in. a. day. Do you care about money? Sure you do, we all do, maybe not all the time and maybe it’s not the most important thing but like it or not, financial health is almost as important as physical health and mental health. At least [...]
The journey, not the destination. Have you taken an olfactory walk down the bike path recently? Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Roses, cut grass, all the smells of Spring after a monster wet winter await you and really what’s more important than recognizing nature? Not much. And if you’re expecting stories [...]
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 [...]
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.