Bill Schloss, Miramonte High School’s new principal, brings a thoughtful leadership style as he focuses on getting to know the school community and building on its tradition of excellence.
Bill Schloss, Miramonte High School’s new principal, describes himself as a “husband and a dad more than anything else. Everything else really comes secondary.”
A few other facts:
His favorite movie is “Forrest Gump.” He was initially wowed by the technology used to insert the main character into historical scenes.
His favorite book is “Pillars of the Earth,” a sweeping 12th-century historical novel about building a great cathedral. As a history major, he was fascinated by a medieval society that could construct something that lasts almost 1,000 years.
He would never put mango salsa in a taco.
Schloss’s hobbies include golf, which he shares with his two sons, and woodworking, his most important creative outlet.
“I felt lucky that a couple of my kids decided they would play golf with me,” he said. “We just go play nine holes, have a good time, and try not to get too worked up about any one shot or your score.”
Though he calls himself an amateur woodworker, he has completed several significant projects, including cabinets and a bathroom remodel.
Schloss thinks his wife and kids are the artists in the family.
“But the thing I like about woodworking is it’s very logical,” he said. “There are a lot of straight lines and 90-degree angles, and you have to be precise, so that works well for me.”
One of his favorite projects was his children’s crib.
“I bought the solid cherry wood, shaped the whole thing, and made all the pieces,” Schloss said.
The result was beautiful – and perhaps a strategic error.
“I didn’t realize you could build things that nice,” his wife told him. “Here’s a list of things I want you to build.”
These days, he confines his woodworking to smaller projects, like pens and coffee scoops as gifts for friends and family, which can be completed quickly with minimal noise, dust and mess.
Schloss appreciates the step-by-step, methodical nature of woodworking. It’s an approach he will apply to his new job.
“There are a lot of things about being a high school principal that are common,” he said, “but also a lot that are done just slightly differently. I’ve got to get to know hundreds of people over the next couple months, look at budgets and talk with folks about their priorities.”
He sees maintaining Miramonte’s excellence less as a fear than as a serious responsibility – and one that will reflect directly on his leadership.
Comparing top-rated Miramonte with Cupertino High School, where he served as principal for two years, he sees many similarities, but some significant differences.
“I do think there’s a stronger athletic program here,” he said. “The school-wide level of the sports programs feels different. It’s fantastic to have all the things for kids to do outside the classroom, as well as the challenges they get in a classroom.
“There’s excitement around being part of something special at a high school, and strong sports teams have real importance. Football is kind of the tone-setter at the beginning of the school year – a successful football team can really set the stage for the rest of the year.”
Another difference between the two schools is how they are funded and how much they rely on community support. He’s impressed with the elevated level of support for schools in Orinda.
“Cupertino is part of the Fremont Union High School District, and though both districts are basic aid, [the Fremont district] is funded a lot better than we are here in Acalanes,” he said. “We are not funded as well as we should be, so getting outside support is vital to keeping our programs running the way they should and creating the programs our kids need.”
Schloss and his wife are enthusiastic about joining the Orinda community. They live nearby in Berkeley, where they moved a few years ago to be closer to two of their three children who were attending UC Berkeley; their daughter lives in New Orleans.
“My wife and I have spent time over here [in Orinda] on weekends in the two years that we’ve lived in the Bay Area, so it already feels familiar,” he said. “Seriously, I absolutely love it here. This beautiful little town that I’m now going to be part of – seems like a wonderful
place to be.”
