A retired teacher, the father of two Lake Orion High School graduates, a longtime resident of the community, and now, the school board president.
School board member Bill Walters was selected at the board’s organizational meeting last month as the board president for the 2008-2009 school year, a role he is excited to undertake.
Walters first started his active role in education as a teacher. He taught in Rochester schools for almost 30 years, before retiring in 2004.
His sons, Chris and Ken, had graduated from Lake Orion in 1999 and 2002, respectively, but Walters decided upon his retirement that he would stay up-to-date on the school board through the newspaper.
‘Kids keep you young,? Walters said, noting although he is a retired band teacher, he stills teaches trumpet lessons for students in eighth grade through high school.
For whatever reason, Walters said, he decided to attend a meeting, where one of the board members announced their resignation due to moving out of the district, and the board asked if any one in the crowd would be interested.
‘The only audience members were me and two staff members,? Walters said. ‘I thought it was karmic.?
While a board member was not chosen that night, Walters decided to throw his hat in the ring and was chosen in August 2004 as the replacement. In 2006, he was elected to a new four-year term, which expires in 2010.
‘I think I have the perspective that lends itself well to the board,? Walters said, noting his background in education and leadership.
He added he enjoys being part of a group of seven that are thinking, talking and making decisions, noting it requires each of their inputs to really make things happen.
‘The board has seven individuals that all have their hearts in the right place,? Walters said. ‘We all have unique perspectives but the same goal ? to do what’s best for kids.?
‘I can’t think of a group I’d rather work with,? he added. ‘They’re all people that have a deep, caring attitude for what we’re doing.?
According to Walters, one of the key things for the board to do is to create a strategic plan they can utilize in their discussions, as well as create a long-term vision they are constantly reassessing, reevaluating and realigning.
In fact, the board has a daylong workshop today, where they will be working on some of these items.
Walters and his wife of 37 years, Cindy, have lived in Lake Orion since 1975, 23 of those years being spent in their current house in downtown.
In addition to teaching music lessons, Walters enjoys photography, working in his yard, walking and hiking. He is also an avid reader and has set a personal goal to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winners; of which he said he is about halfway done.
Walters is also a veteran of the U.S. Army of where he spent three years, some of which was touring in Korea and performing with one of the support troops. He said he also shot about 3,000 yards of film while overseas.