Small Voices, Big Hearts

The Key to Community: Student Leadership and Service in Action

In this episode of Willmar Wisdom: Beyond the Classroom, we highlight the power of student leadership and service in action. Hear from Willmar High School Key Club members as they share how they’re making a difference both locally and beyond. From organizing a large-scale food packing event to supporting school and community initiatives, these students are learning what it means to lead with purpose. Their work goes beyond volunteering—it’s about building character, creating connections, and becoming engaged, global citizens. Tune in to hear how Key Club is bringing people together and why service matters now more than ever.

Small Voices, Big Hearts

In this special episode of Willmar Wisdom: Beyond the Classroom, we step away from the district office and into the world of our youngest learners. Join us as five first graders from Kennedy Elementary take the lead in a guided read-along of Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell. Through their honest, funny, and thoughtful perspectives, these students explore themes of confidence, embracing what makes us unique, and standing tall in the face of challenges. It’s a heartwarming reminder that even the smallest voices can share the biggest lessons.

From Classroom to Pool Deck

In this episode, Dr. Adams sits down with longtime educator and boys swimming & diving coach Carl Shuldes as he reflects on nearly four decades at Willmar Public Schools. From starting in the late 1980s to coaching swimming and track for decades, Carl shares what it meant to spend his entire career in one district and build a program rooted in consistency and commitment. He talks about the culture of swimming — the early mornings, the demanding practices, and the pride that comes from pushing beyond what you think you can do. As he retires from coaching, this episode celebrates a legacy built not just on competition, but on helping student-athletes grow in confidence, resilience, and identity.

Finding the Right Fit: Open Enrolling in Willmar Public Schools

In this episode, Superintendent, Dr. Bill Adams talks with Rochelle Peterson, a Willmar Public Schools parent who has open enrolled her three children into the district. Rochelle shares what led her family to explore open enrollment and why Willmar Public Schools felt like the right fit for each of her kids. She reflects on the importance of feeling supported, known, and confident in where your children are learning, and offers helpful insight for families considering open enrollment.

Family and Public Education Meet

In this episode, Dr. Adams sits down with four members of the Hulstein family, all of whom work within the Willmar Public School District. The conversation explores what it’s like to serve students and families not only as educators, but as a family rooted in the same community. From funny moments of being mistaken as related with staff everywhere they go, to thoughtful reflections on education, connection, and showing up for the work, this episode offers a meaningful and lighthearted look at life inside our schools.