Will C. Wood High School

OUR HISTORY

Will C. Wood first opened its doors in September of 1969. At that time it was planned to be Vacaville's second comprehensive high school. Growth was not as fast as anticipated and plans were modified. From 1969-1973 Will C. Wood was a satellite campus for Vacaville High School. Ninth and tenth grades for science and math and all classes for ninth graders were two combinations that were used. In the fall of 1974, Wood became a junior high school (grades 7 - 9) servicing the south side of Vacaville with Willis Jepson Junior High School serviced the north side of Vacaville. Wood remained in this format until the 1988-1989 school year.

A new intermediate school, Vaca Pena Intermediate School, was built on the south side of Vacaville. Seventh graders went to Vaca Pena rather than to Wood. In 1988 Wood began its transition into a four-year high school. That year Wood had 8th, 9th, and 10th graders. Construction was started to complete Wood as a high school. A new gymnasium, locker room, classroom wing, office complex, cafeteria, and theater were added. Each year a new class was added. The 1991-1992 school year was the first year that Will C. Wood was a complete four year high school. However, the facility was never completed. The class of 1992 was our first graduating class. In 2012 we celebrated 20 years of graduates.

In 2007-2008, Will C. Wood began a three-phase modernization process. This was a $35 million project funded by the Measure V Bond initiative passed in 2003. The first phase of this project included a new lower field complex that improved our physical education facility as well as enhancing our ability to hold athletic events and student activities on campus.

The second phase of the project included the addition of our state of the art science wing. This two story building added valuable classroom space and provided our students and staff with a science facility that we can all be proud of.

Finally, the third phase of the project included many upgrades to our quad, the administration building, all of the remaining classroom wings, both locker rooms, the small gym, the gym foyer and improvement of our technology infrastructure.

WCW LEADERSHIP

Wood has had a total of nine principals:

Charleston Brown:
2022-Present

Adam Rich:
2016-2022

Cliff De Graw:
2011 - 2016

Chris Strong:
2006 - 2011

Enriqueta Newland
1995 - 2005

Garlon Prewitt:
1994 - 1995

Mike Donnoe:
1991 - 1994

Frank Molina:
1977 - 1991

Nancy Klees:
1969 - 1977

OUR NAMESAKE

William Christopher Wood (1880-1939)

William C. Wood was born in Elmira, California, December 10, 1880, the son of Emerson and Martha Jane (Turner) Wood.

He attended Stanford University, 1900-01, University of California, 1906, University of Michigan, summer of 1913. He received his M.A. degree, pro merito, from the University of California in 1919.

On July 12, 1905, he married Agnes Kerr.

He was principal of schools in Fairfield, California from 1901 to 1906. He was also president of the Solano County Board of Education; Principal of Wilson School, Alameda, California from 1906 to 1909. In 1913, Will C. Wood founded the California Interscholastic Federation, or CIF, and is known as the "father" of organized high school athletics in California. He became Superintendent of Schools in Alameda in 1909 and served in that capacity until 1914. He then served as State Commissioner of Secondary Schools in California from 1914 to 1919, State Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1919 to 1927. From 1927 until 1931 Mr. Wood served as State Superintendent of Banks and was Vice-President and manager of the Oakland Branch of the Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association. During these years, he was also the Director of Pacific National Fire Insurance Company, Capitol Company, member of the Advisory Council, Transamerica Corporation, a Regent of the University of California from 1919 to 1927, Secretary of California Teacher's Association, 1908-09; President of the National Council of State Departments of Education, 1919-1920; Chairman of California Commission for Study of Refinancing Irrigation Districts, 1929 - 31; Vice-President of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, 1932.

Will C. Wood was a lecturer in the field of education. He lectured at Teacher's College (Columbia University) during the summer of 1917, Stanford University during the summers of 1920-21 and the University of Southern California in 1922 and from 1927 through 1931.

He was a Republican and a Mason.

American's Message was written in joint authorship with Cooper and Rice. He also contributed many articles to educational and banking journals.

He died at his home in Piedmont, California on May 15, 1939.