My story
My name is Paul Garrison. I started the Lil' Will Learning Company to help families and students learn and succeed. Over the last 17 years of my teaching career, I built many long-lasting relationships with my students through trust, high expectations, and unwavering support. My approach is to not push students to get the right answers, but build confidence to ask the right questions.
I started teaching at Hayward High School and Brett Hart Middle School for 3 years in the Hayward Unified School District in Hayward, CA. There I taught everything from 3rd grade all the way to Algebra and SAT prep. Most of my time was spent at Ruus Elementary, where I spent 14 years as a classroom teacher (mostly 6th grade).
While there, I also ran an after-school program known as the Ruus Shakespeareans. Every year 5th and 6th graders put together a full production of a play by William Shakespeare that featured live rock music, dancing, and lighting. Collectively, each cast put over 15,000 hours into a production every year. The program was recognized by the national nonprofit, Multiplying Good, and it received a Jefferson Award for public service.
Former students would also attend Saturday morning class to receive extra tutoring on algebra, literature, Shakespeare, and SAT/ACT prep.
After 14 amazing years it was time for me to move on and start something new.
“He has single-handedly changed my life for the better and has inspired me to pursue becoming a teacher. He wasn't just a teacher, he was a mentor, a friend, and someone who genuinely cares for the future and wellbeing of all his students.”
Gina H, UC Berkeley
Who exactly is Lil' Will?
Lil' Will was my mascot for my classroom at Ruus Elementary. The ongoing joke was that he was always the best student in the classroom and that he had never missed a question in that classroom for years (ignore the fact that I never called on him to answer a question!).
He always hung out at the drums and saw many successful students.
Since this little doll was a consistent presence in that classroom, he ended up being the inspiration for starting the Lil' Will Learning Company.