South Windsor High School’s beloved child development and child care teacher, Mrs. Ann Wolff, is retiring at the end of the 23-24 school year. Mrs. Wolff has been a part of the South Windsor High School team for 21 years.
Prior to her time at SWHS, Wolff taught a pioneered full-day kindergarten in Pennsylvania, as well as a preschool, Mommy and Me classes, toddler playground classes in Pennsylvania, and gifted and talented classes in middle school for 3 years in New Jersey.
When her family moved from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, Wolff wanted to become involved in the school system.
“The high school asked parents to become involved on a parent committee, so I did. In fact, I became involved on a couple of committees,” Wolff explained.
One of the meetings was hosted at her house since they needed to meet somewhere, so she volunteered. Several people noticed all her books on education and asked about her background. Wolff was asked to apply for the open Child Development position at SWHS.
“I loved it. As I said, it became my favorite gig of all. I was able to teach while helping students experience the love of teaching young children, and yet I was still being with young children myself, which I loved as a kindergarten teacher,” Wolff told The Prowl.
Even though she has been teaching Child Development and Leadership of Child Care at South Windsor High School for the past 21 years, Wolff explained how her first day teaching at the high school was terrifying.
“Here I was so used to being with kids under 3 feet tall, some without teeth, and now I was walking in halls with students taller than me, and all of them had teeth. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be in the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest teacher to quit–one class and out,” Wolff said.
Luckily, she stayed through one class and then another and ultimately made it through her first day, and now 21 years later, she is happy to say it was awesome and worth staying.
As a result to her teaching for so many years, many of her students became teachers and that was a thrill like no other. Now even her para, who many know as Mrs. A, has become certified in early childhood.
“I’ll definitely miss the fun of teaching and being with students and kids, but it is time to pass the baton to someone else at this point. I am so thankful to the community for always being willing to lend us their children to learn from and the district for the opportunity and everything,” Wolff commented.
“This year, we were just getting used to the room. If I had more time, I would figure out ways with other teachers, and with students, to have field trips come to us or go to the lobby to meet some of the [other] classes. Perhaps that will make it more visible for people to consider Child Development as a fun and awesome elective to take.”
Taking the reins from Wolff will be a new teacher. Mrs. Doherty, a veteran educator is poised to take this position in the fall.
