Welcoming New Teachers

​By: Allison Nargi and Nora Serrao

  There are some new teachers at WHS this year gracing us with their presence. To see how they feel about the school we sat down with Mrs. Coco, Dr. Gorton, and Mrs. Campbell.

Mrs. Coco:
First up, we have a one-time skydiver, Mrs. Coco, who teaches design engineering. She has already made her mark in the school with our new “Blue Eagle News,” which is used to broadcast school announcements. She said, “I would like more kids to follow the Blue Eagle,” so make sure to go follow @BlueEagleTV on Twitter!

Coco taught at Ellington for 22 years. “I was really sad to leave my students, but I needed a change,” she explained. “The kids here are awesome.”

Dr. Gorton:
​Whether it be college or high school, many of our teachers have previously taught. We have a teacher, Dr. Gorton, who taught at Ellington High School for 9 years and at Uconn for 5 years.

We asked how they feel about the block scheduling, and Gorton revealed his struggles with the adjustment, saying, “It really depends on the class. For hands on classes such as tech. ed and science, the block scheduling works great, but I find it difficult for some students, seeing them every other day...it’s tough,” This was a common disadvantage mentioned with the block scheduling.

Mrs. Campbell:
​We also have a former freelance art director, Mrs. Campbell, who now teaches Technology Education. Before teaching, she had the opportunity to witness history. “I attended the Paris Air Show in 1989 and watched the Challenger Spacecraft arrive piggyback on a cargo plane, as well as witness the Russian Mig crash,” she went on to explain. All of these incredible experiences helped her become such a great teacher.

She also touched on the new construction, saying, “The school building is amazing and I don't know if the students realize just how lucky they are to be in the space.”

Final Thoughts:
Whether this new school is larger or smaller compared to their last, they all agreed that the staff and students are great. Coco said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the faculty. People here are really welcoming, it’s nice.” Mrs. Campbell said, “Wethersfield has a more diverse and much larger population. … The administration is very supportive and has provided a wonderful climate for the students as well as the staff. We can’t wait to see how this new staff impacts the school and makes us stronger!