Teaching the Tigers: Tales from Veteran Faculty: Recent Episodes
Luke Stone
In this podcast, Sixth Former Luke Stone '20 talks to Woodberry faculty members with years of experience to get their perspectives on what it's like to teach in such a unique environment for such a long time.
In the final episode of the series, retired longtime English teacher Mr. John Reimers discusses his grading "philosophy," why he grilled students on the average temperature of the universe in degrees Kelvin, and explains why he stayed at Woodberry for so long.
In this episode, Senior Master Mr. Paul Huber '68 talks about his time at Woodberry as a student, his two runs as academic dean, and why he's chosen to stay on the faculty for so long.
In this episode, Mr. Ben Hale, an English teacher, talks about the difficulty of balancing personal and professional at Woodberry, why he thinks Third Formers are like "puppies," and explains why Woodberry feels like where he was supposed to "stick."
In this episode, former art teacher Mr. Kelly Lonergan talks about his impressions of Woodberry from his childhood in Orange, how he tried to transform the art program to become something more substantial, and what he misses most about teaching in his retirement.
In this episode, Mr. Frank Tallman, a member of the History Department, talks about the differences between life on and off dorm as a faculty member, discusses why he fell in love with teaching, and explains the line that young faculty members have to walk between being "friends" and "buddies" with their students.
In this episode, Mr. Wallace Hornady talks about working with the quartet in this winter's Music Man, analyzes the different challenges posed by working with The Dozen and the choir, and explains why Woodberry felt like home to him from the early going.
In this episode, Librarian Mrs. Phoebe Warmack talks about how the digital landscape has altered her work, what it was like to raise four children on campus, and the differences between helping younger and older students with research projects.
Mr. John Amos, an Orange, VA native, recalls his early impressions of Woodberry's campus, explains why he left St. Anne's-Belfield for Woodberry after 24 years, and talks about his love of the game of golf.
In this episode, Spanish Teacher and Woodberry in Spain Director Andrew Handelsman talks about his cross-country move from California to Woodberry, raising his children on campus, and his close friendship with Mr. Drew Collier '03.
The now-retired Rev. Dr. David Smith, a former chaplain, talks about why he was ultimately drawn back for a second stint at Woodberry, relives part of his round at Augusta National Golf Club, and explains why lunchtime exemplifies what he misses most about teaching at Woodberry.
In this episode, Mr. Matthew Keating talks about encountering a sleepwalking Carter Krusz '20 while on AM duty, his experience with the Woodberry in Oxford program last summer, and why boarding school education is so valuable and transformative.
In this episode, Dr. Fred Jordan discusses how Woodberry differs from the other boarding schools he's worked at, talks about the presence of Woodberry Christian Fellowship, and explains what it was like to balance parenting and teaching.
In this episode, Mr. Drew Collier '03 explains how he went from Woodberry to Wofford to Barcelona to Woodberry (again), talks about his friendship with Mr. Andrew Handelsman, and discusses his relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Firman.
In this episode, Mr. Colin Gay' 93 talks about his most meaningful faculty mentors, Turner Hall hijinx, and what he enjoys most about teaching at Woodberry.
In the inaugural episode, longtime English teacher Mr. Ted Blain talks about his life before Woodberry, his most memorable (and bizarre experiences) in his thirty-eight-year tenure at Woodberry, and what he expects he'll miss in his life after Woodberry.