As the 2026-27 school year begins, new students and new teachers arrive on campus. Nothing breaks the ice better than a Wink introduction. Here is part one with two of our new teachers.
Meet Mr. O’Connor, the new World Literature teacher.
Mr. O’Connor had two really great teachers in high school and college who helped him a lot. When he needed support, they were always there for him. So he wanted to help people in the same way.
His experience at Wooster has been very welcoming. The tight community and bond from students to teachers have surprised him. He already feels like he is part of the community.
He was surprised by how much freedom he has in what he teaches within his subject. He can adapt his teaching to what his students need, which has helped him much more than he expected.
He described the students as friendly, polite, kind, and respectful. He has already gotten to know many of them and has had a good experience with them.
Meet Ms. Freeman, a new World Languages teacher.
Ms. Freeman started tutoring her classmates naturally in high school. She was grateful for the experience because she found it easy and fulfilling. She also became a teaching assistant in college, which helped lead her toward teaching.
She said her experience has been excellent. She enjoys having fewer students in her classes as it allows her to feel more connected to them, because her previous school had around 40 students in a class.
She was surprised by how connected the teachers are with their students. She noticed that students are happy to see and talk to their teachers.
She said the students are less formal but “warmer.” They approach teachers easily and seem comfortable talking with adults. She remembers being intimidated by her teachers during office hours when she was a sophomore, so she noticed a big difference with the students at Wooster.
So far this school year, both Mr. O’Connor and Ms. Freeman have had a positive start at Wooster. They both enjoy connecting with students and becoming part of the Wooster community. Their experiences show how meaningful teaching can be when teachers build connections with their students. As a community, we are excited to have them at Wooster this school year!
Nathan '29
Journalism
Ryan '29
Journalism
