We are excited to welcome Mr. Bill Slikker and his family to Valley Home! Bill is our new Valley Home School Superintendent. Having only been here a few weeks, he and his family are already a part of our Valley Home Family. We appreciated very much each of them coming to our July 31 event to be with us to “Honor our Sweet Bonnie and All Who Fight Cancer.”
In this week’s column we would like to introduce Bill and share his journey over the years. We are so happy his educational journey has brought him to Valley Home!
Bill and his wife Kathleen have been married for 16 years and have three kids. Hayden is 23, Riley is 15 and Nate is 13 years old.
Bill was born and raised in Ripon and graduated from Ripon High in 1989.
He played one year of college football at Sacramento State, didn’t love it, so he went to Dickerson State University in North Dakota. He played basketball for two years at Dickerson State University and graduated with a major in Phys Ed and a minor in Business. Bill taught for one year in rural North Dakota ... K-12 PE/Business and was Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball Coach in Powers Lake, North Dakota.
Bill moved back to California and taught at West High School in Tracy. He taught there for two years and coached JV Boys Basketball. Bill then taught at East Union for one year while coaching football and basketball. While at East Union Bill met his wife Kathleen. With Weston Ranch being a new school Bill taught there for five years while serving as the boys Varsity Basketball Coach. He enjoyed starting his own program! Bill then accepted the AD/Teacher position at Lathrop High School which opened in 2008. He enjoyed coaching Basketball and the entire Athletic Program from the ground up! He was at Lathrop High School for six years. He then accepted the VP job at Manteca High School. There he enjoyed being part of a great team and learned a lot from a seasoned principal! Bill was also the AD there and led the Athletics program ... in his words .... “and just saying ... we were quite successful!”
The new superintendent also added these comments: “Now the time has come that my (younger) kids are in, or getting close to being in High School! I want to be able to see my kids participate in athletics and activities at their school. This position came up and l took a shot at it, and, fortunately ... well I am here!
Everyone in the community has been super nice and inviting to both me and my family! I think this was definitely the right move for me.”
In Bill’s “spare” time he enjoys playing golf and watching or coaching his kids in all of their activities they have going on!
Welcome to Valley Home School and welcome to our Valley Home community, Bill and family!
*****
We would like to send a most heartfelt “Thank You” to Mr. Dallas Plaa, our Interim Superintendent for his amazing support over the last several months! We are so grateful for your educational knowledge, your leadership, your encouragement and your enthusiasm. Thank you!
*****
It meant so much to all of us to have our First Responders come join the fun in Valley Home for National Night Out on Aug. 3. The Valley Home kids had a blast with our First Responders, you are appreciated! Also a huge thank you to Supervisor Buck Condit for attending as well; we all enjoyed the chance to visit with him.
*****
We end this week’s column with a quick report on a great new tradition here in Valley Home! Our community came together this past Saturday to support our Valley Home Community Park. The fundraising corn hole tournament, delicious dinner with a free fun family movie at dark along with free popcorn was very well attended! Thank you to each of you ... your support raised $784 for park expenses such as insurance, PG&E, pump/well maintenance and more.
*****
As always, you may reach me at WinnieMullins51@gmail.com or by telephone at 209-985-5233. Until next time, “Happy Trails To All!”
