Woodland School District campuses have offered in-person instruction for nearly a month following the district’s implementation of phase three of their five-phase plan to safely reopen schools.
At Woodland High School, the return of students has brought in a new level of normalcy, but for first-year principal Peter Lambert — who has been a teacher and principal at multiple schools and districts for more than 20 years — this year has been anything but normal.
“I am excited about being the principal at Woodland High School,” Lambert said. “Woodland has a proud tradition, and I am excited to join the team. I think it’s an excellent community and an excellent team of educators with a very proud group of students, and community pride is just overwhelming. It just means a lot to me to be accepted within the Woodland family, and I am excited to be here.”
Previously, Lambert served in the Sacramento City Unified School District as the principal of McClatchy High School. Before that, he was in the Elk Grove Unified School District as the principal of one of their middle schools. Lambert has also served as an administrator, coach, and high school math teacher in North Carolina.
Before becoming an educator, Lambert started his career as an engineer and lifeguard.
“I never thought I would become a teacher,” Lambert said. “I found I enjoyed spending time with people and teaching swimming lessons. It became something that sparked my interests. I love sharing knowledge with others and the excitement and joy when students learn, and that was just in swimming.”
After thinking he would only teach for a few years, he ended up sticking with it and shifted his focus from engineering to education. While in North Carolina, Lambert coached football, swimming, and track while teaching math.
“My principal at the time said I would be a great administrator,” Lambert said. “I had won several awards teaching AP calculus, statistics, and computer science, so I never thought I would become an administrator, but he really encouraged and supported me to do it. I gave it a try and loved it. The thrill of supporting students and the excitement of seeing students grow and mature over the years and seeing them many years after they graduate, it’s just a wonderful experience to feel like you had a positive impact on the lives of students.”
During the first week back for students, Lambert estimated that around 60% of the students returned to in-person instruction on April 12, with the rest opting to remain in distance learning. The students did have a week-long grace period to change their minds, pending the appropriate space was available in the classrooms.
On April 26, all secondary students, including those at Woodland High School, returned for five days of in-person instruction.
“Some students have families that have chosen to remain in distance learning, and for some of them, it’s a very good option,” Lambert said. “Some have even flourished on distance learning, but the vast majority do much better with the in-person interactions and the socialization that come with being in school. I’m just so happy that the sports teams, clubs, all of the other activities that students are involved in have been able to resume in some limited form, but they have resumed to break the isolation that students have been feeling.”
While Lambert is excited over the thought of a full in-person instruction schedule set for August, he doesn’t want to put a bow on the last few weeks of this year just yet. The class of 2021 has had one of the hardest years ever, and Lambert is mindful of that.
“I want to make these last weeks the best experience for this senior class,” Lambert said. “I want them to leave on a positive note, and then I’ll be excited about the future and the start of the next school year. I think it will be a more robust return. But right now, I just want to focus on these students right here, right now, especially the senior class.”
