As students walk down the almost sterile hallways of Central Kitsap High School, you see that the classrooms are much different than the hallways that connect them. Each teacher has put their own personal touch on their classrooms; William Wilson, a science teacher who’s been in the game for 42 years, is no different. 

When you enter his classroom you are greeted by a wall of windows that give you a perfect view of the Puget Sound, the crisp crystal blue waters and snow coated mountains, and the city below. You then notice a big presentation board that makes up the periodic table, looking up from there you will see shirts that have what can be described as cheesy dad jokes of science, for example, the shirt that says “2 moles per liter” with a picture of moles in lab coats and goggles holding a beaker. The rest of the room is adorned with various items and activities that Wilson’s science class will no doubt tackle this year.

Wilson graduated with a dual degree in chemistry and biology at Central Missouri State University. He then got his masters degree for teaching science at Old Dominion University. While at university, Wilson met John Belshe who taught Comparative Anatomy One and Two. According to Wilson, Belshe challenged him and all of his students which created a close atmosphere among his students.

“When I was in college, I had a professor that just challenged me”, Wilson said. “And I discovered things that I thought I could not do, and I discovered that I could do them. And I thought that it was pretty cool that somebody could do that. So that’s why I became a teacher,” 

Before teaching at CKHS, Wilson taught at a Private Girls Catholic school in Kansas City for eight years, next he went to teach at another exclusive private school in Kansas City for another eight years. Central Kitsap High School was his first public school and he stayed for five years, before he taught at Klahowya for eight years while his daughter went to school, he is now ending his career at CKHS with an additional 13 years here.

“I just loved it. The old CK when I got here, had 94 teachers who were passionate about teaching. I mean really good teachers,” Wilson said. “They had principals who were passionate about supporting their teachers who were passionate about teaching. And there were students who were passionate about learning. It was just so cool.” 

Wilson recalled conversations he’s had with people over the years when asked about his career.

  “You know, most people think that that kind of atmosphere only exists in very exclusive private schools. It’s not true. You know, I found the public school experience, at least a CK to be much better than it was at the private schools, even the most exclusive private schools. So I was really impressed,” Wilson continued.

Now Wilson teaches Chemistry and AP Environmental Science. His favorite class to teach is AP Environmental Science because of how much the subject covers. Wilson tries to promote the same classroom atmosphere as Belshe did 42 years prior. 

As years of prior students show in their Ap test scores and in their chosen field of study. Wilson has inspired students to pursue Civil Engineering, majors and minors in Environmental Science, and many jobs within the biology and chemistry field. 

“His class is always quiet, there’s always him giving a straightforward lecture. So it’s easier to work in. Easy to focus. And in the club, he just made it great to be around honestly,” Andrew Adams, a former student and Environmental Club president said.

Current and former students praise Wilson on how he builds and keeps connections with his students. 

“It’s just really supportive and also very informative. He likes to include all of his students and does a very nice job. He’s very kind. And it’s a very comforting presence that makes it easy to learn. He always gives us a bunch times that we can retry things and like just perfect things so that it’s learning for the sake of learning rather than just for the sake of a grade,” Claire Atkinson, a senior and current AP environmental student said.

“And he’s also doing something very important, which is you know,  about the environment and I think he does a really good job of it and showing all the different options that we have, not just making it very depressing,” Atkinson continues.

All students, no matter grade level, have noticed things that teachers do or don’t do that either annoy them, distract them, or in the best cases help them.  Wilson’s students praise him for creating the best learning environment for them.

“It’s engaging yet informative at the same time, because it’s not like other teachers. They’ll ramble on and we won’t get anything done but at the same time, it’s not boring,” Courtney Stocks, another current student, adds.

Wilson’s favorite part of teaching is interactions with his students, one of his favorite memories is building bonds with his students at  one of his private schools.

“Years ago, I used to teach a class at a private school. It was Honors Biology, and to be an Honors Biology student you had to do a science fair project. So in those classes where the kids had to do the science fair projects. I got to know them really well, because we did a lot of work on their projects together. So yeah, I kind of missed that,” Wilson said. 

While Wilson loved spending quality time with his students when helping them with science fair projects, he didn’t continue the tradition at CKHS. By the time Wilson came to CKHS he had started a family, and science fair projects took too much time that he didn’t have.

Wilson’s connections and dedication to his students show through his commitment to environmental science, through his environmental club work which up until this year he was the advisor of.

  “I think it’s probably being in the environmental club. Just talking with him, just finding out new things about everything in general. Whether it was ways to get the student body involved or just talking with him about day to day lives,” Adams said.

Both Adams and Atkinson participated in the environmental club; they described the club as an encouraging atmosphere. In the club they pick up recycling from the classrooms, organize events before and after school, even during lunch to educate students about waste, and work in the schools community garden which donates all food grown to the local food bank.

While he doesn’t get to have the same kind of quality time with students now that he did at the private school, he prefers what he has over what he had to adapt to during online learning because of COVID-19.

“Well the interaction with students just dropped out. It was depressing, not to be able to be in a classroom with students. I mean you’re at home every day, sitting in front of that computer. And even though you had these meetings, a lot of the students didn’t show up and it was just that the lack of student interaction was without a doubt the biggest challenge and the lack of interaction with colleagues. So that human element was missing, and it was really hard, and that’s why I went into teaching was to interact with students and colleagues and without that, it was like, ‘wow, I don’t want to do this for a living,’” Wilson said.

Wilson aspires to challenge and inspire his students to show them that they can do hard things, he hopes to be the stepping stone to his students’ success.

“Oh, well, I think the big picture is I hope my students feel like they can do anything they set their mind to. I mean, if  you want to do it badly enough, you can do it. And some students don’t need me. I mean, they’re gonna just do it on their own, but other students might need me to show them that they can do it if they try,” Wilson said. “You know,  that’s kind of what brings me the most pleasure as a teacher is when I show a student, you’re capable of it and you’re good at it.  That’s teaching on the most fundamental level. That’s what got me into teaching.”

Wilson’s best piece of advice for former students, current students, and those that he won’t be able to teach is to do what makes you happy.

“I have found through experience that I’m at my happiest when I’m helping others. And I think you know, I think if you can find a job where you’re helping others, you’re going to be a really happy person. And you’re going to have a really good life. You know what I mean? So if you get a job where you’re just trying to make money, I just don’t think that’s going to lead to a very happy life,” Wilson said.