South Haven News

By Claire Minor

The subjects taught in the high school math classes at South Haven Schools this year include Pre-Algebra, Algebra l, Geometry, Algebra ll, and College Algebra. The two outstanding individuals teaching those classes are Mrs. Toni Wolff, and Mrs. Glennis Zimmerman.

The math classes in the school building have been a rollercoaster to say the least, but our current teachers are quickly changing that perspective. The principal of South Haven Schools, Zane Aguilar says, “Currently, we have two amazing educators in Mrs. Wolff and Mrs. Zimmerman. They both have many years of experience, which shows throughout the day in their classroom. I have been able to work with many math teachers in my career and these two rank at the top of that group! They care about their students and it shows in their teaching.”

About the Math Teachers

Last year we lost our former math teacher, Mr. Omba. But luckily we had one of our favorite teachers come out of retirement to help out with the Junior High and High School math at South Haven Schools.

Glennis Zimmerman, currently teaches Pre-Algebra and Geometry; this will be her second full year of teaching at South Haven Schools. Zimmerman might’ve only taught two years at SHS, but she has previously worked at Wellington, Winfield, and Cowley College. Two years may not sound like much, so try 30 altogether.

Zimmerman says that when a student is struggling in her class, she tries to find where the struggle is coming from by putting notes on their papers and including them throughout the lesson. Zimmerman says that her favorite thing about teaching math is “watching the lightbulb go on” and literally seeing students understand her class work.

Zimmerman didn’t expect to be teaching this long, and even though she hopes that South Haven is able to get a permanent math teacher, she loves to teach, loves the kids, and loves that South Haven Schools feels like home to her. 

Another well loved teacher at South Haven Schools, Toni Wolff, teaches Pre-Algebra, Algebra l, Geometry, Algebra ll, and College Algebra. This will be her third year teaching math, Wolff has previously taught at Madison High School in Madison, KS where she taught for three years; then taught a year at Atchison Community High School in Effingham, KS. Wolff then began to teach at Caldwell High School and taught there for thirty years until she retired in 2012.  After that she substituted in both Caldwell and South Haven until she taught middle school ELA in 2020-21 at South Haven Schools.

Currently, she is teaching math, and this will be her third year doing so. When Mrs. Wolff notices a student struggling in her class, she tries to reteach the concept in another way in hopes that they can grasp the idea. Wolff says that she is always available to help students before or after school.

Wolff says that her favorite thing about teaching is working with young people and helping them succeed in math.  “It is rewarding when a student finally understands a concept and is able to solve problems.  I always hope that I can encourage students that they ‘can’ do math!” Toni Wolff loves teaching, working with her staff members, and especially working with her students!

Regardless of how long they will remain teaching here, we’re extremely lucky to have these two amazing teachers at South Haven Schools!