Bill Bailey Innovation and Learning Center
In Memory of Bill Bailey
El Toro High School's Innovation and Learning Center is named in the memory of ETHS teacher Bill Bailey. Mr. Bailey was the 1990 dedicatee in Clearly Imagine, the 17th edition of the El Toro High School Yearbook. In that edition, former ETHS student Andrea Higuera wrote this piece about Mr. Bailey:
Mr. Bill Bailey has a unique way of combining teaching with humor, energy, and intense passion for his subject. He is an outstanding teacher, but his commitment to El Toro High School extends far beyond overall well-being of his students that sets him apart. As Lauri Seamark started, “Mr. Bailey is more than a teacher; he is your friend. I don’t think of him as just a teacher.” Because of his ability to maintain this special balance and his dedication to the El Toro High School, the Charger Staff is proud to honor Mr. Bailey as the 1990 Yearbook Dedicatee.
Mr. Bailey was hired as an English Teacher at El Toro in 1980. Since then he has also taught World History, U.S. History, A.P. European History, and Delphi. In 1985 he founded the AP European History course on campus. Not only did he spend a tremendous amount of time preparing the curriculum, but he has also spent endless hours preparing his students for this rigorous exam. As a review of the coursework, he holds study sessions after school and on Saturday mornings close to the test date. With a 95% passing rate, it is clear that his efforts have paid off for himself and his students who have received college credits. The Delphi class is another special class for which Mr. Bailey is responsible. It is aimed at preparing academically promising students for success on the PSAT and the SAT. in addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Bailey acts as an academic advisor. He is the advisor for the California Scholastic Federation (CSF) and the Delphi Program. He coordinates History Day every year and keeps students posted on other academic competitions. Beyond his official positions, Mr. Bailey is always there to answer students’ questions on any subject and to share his wealth of knowledge.
As an extension of his commitment to academic excellence, Mr. Bailey is a member of the Saddleback Valley Educator’s Association (SVEA). This group of teachers negotiates contracts and works out problems within the district. He has also been the SVEA delegate to the California Teachers Association State Council for seven years representing all of the teachers in the Saddleback Valley. Outside of school, Mr. Bailey pursues a wide variety of other interests. In accordance with his interest in history, he lives in a historical home in Fullerton with his wife Beth. Mr. Bailey also loves bike riding and traveled to Europe las summer to watch the Tour de France. Listening to classical music and collecting rare books are among his other pastimes.
Mr. Bailey is clearly unique in his ability to act as both a teacher and friend to his students. Kathy Kim summarized this quality: “Some say that Mr. Bailey doesn’t have any kids. I think he has hundreds. Just like school is a second home to a lot of students, Mr. Bailey is a second father to many of us. He gives us tremendous guidance and motivation, yet he talks to us like we are friends. Mr. Bailey is my best friend because he knows me better than I know myself. I know that all of his ‘kids’ feel the same. Whether you need to find a college or a prom date, Mr. B is the one to see!"
In 2019, the "Bill Bailey Memorial Library" at ETHS officially changed its name to the "Bill Bailey Innovation and Learning Center."
Learning Center
We have arranged for an English and math teacher to be available for help in those content areas during lunch in the Learning Center. Other teachers will be available in the Learning Center after school on Mondays and Wednesday from 2:30-4:00 and a counselor will be available Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3:30-4:30.
Students in our National Honor Society (NHS) will provide Peer Tutoring in our Learning Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The students tutors are high-achieving students who are earning volunteer hours by serving in the Learning Center. The student tutors are signing up for shifts during lunch and afternoons based on their availability. We are not able to guarantee availability because we do not know how many students will come in to get their help, so they are assisting walk-ins who want their help in core classes.
High School Textbooks
Library Catalog
Using Destiny, students can search the library catalog to find materials.
Find Library Materials
In order to find materials, follow these steps:
- Visit ETHS's Destiny Page
- Log in with your username and password
- Search by Keyword, Author, Title, Subject, or Series
More Information
- Select "Details" next to the title to get additional information about the book
- You can create your own list of books when logged in
- Check the "My Info" tab to see all the materials currently checked out in your name
Library Resources
- Encyclopedia Britannica. SVUSD students and teachers have access to Encyclopedia Britannica and Image Quest, which provide K-12 teachers and students with an easy way to collect articles, images, and videos.
- Username: svusd
- Password: learn
- EBSCO. SVUSD students and teachers have access to EBSCO as an additional research resource. For 7-12th grade teachers and students.
- Username: svusd
- Password: ebsco
- EasyBib. The EasyBib website is FREE and allows the student to create accurate MLA, APA or Chicago style citations and check their papers for plagiarism and grammar errors.