As a Chemistry teacher at Oviedo High School, Scott Waisanen has a crucial role in teaching students one of its core science classes. Waisanen teaches AP and honors chemistry, and is the only AP chemistry teacher at OHS. He has helped Oviedo’s students achieve as high as an 89% pass rate on the AP Chemistry exam.
Waisanen grew up in Oviedo and attended Oviedo High School before graduating in 1988. He attended Anderson University and Wofford where he discovered that he wanted to be a teacher.
“I enjoyed the teaching process and my college code teacher… inspired me to want to go down that path,” said Waisanen.
Waisanen discovered his passion for science through high school and college which led to his decision to go into a science related field. Waisanen specifically enjoyed the chemistry classes he was in due to his enjoyment of the subject.
“But I just really enjoyed chemistry and the challenges of it. It’s like little pieces of a puzzle,” Waisanen said.
Waisanen’s 29 years of experience in the classroom at OHS have taught him how to teach in different ways to make sure that his students understand the concepts and material that they are being taught.
Senior Madelyn Howard has seen firsthand Waisanen’s ability to adapt his teaching style to his students from their experience in Waisanen’s chemistry class. “He’s very good at … picking up on where people are missing things and reiterating it in a different way that people understand,” Howard said.
Waisanen’s flexibility transfers from the classroom to the soccer field. Waisanen has coached the girls soccer team for 28 years, and he has spent 20 of them acting as the varsity head coach. As a coach he has to manage his time between teaching and coaching which sometimes comes with challenges.
“You have to know when you’re going to have practices and games… or preparing tests and lessons… sometimes you have to prioritize your time just like our student athletes do,” Waisanen said.
Waisanen’s understanding of student athletes helps his players manage their time between soccer and school.
“Because he understands, as a teacher, that academics are more important than his sport and he’s always just there to uplift his athletes and students,” Howard said.
Waisanen brings his supportive attitude from the field to the classroom. This helps his students learn in a helpful environment and remain positive through challenging topics or assignments.
Waisanen’s support has helped Eva Cuna, senior, learn how to improve their mentality on the field and in the classroom. “[Waisanen] has taught me to learn from my mistakes and do better than I have before,” Cuna said.
Waisanen is able to keep such a positive mood in the classroom thanks to the rewarding feeling he gets from teaching.
“When you’re teaching a difficult concept to a student and they get it and the light goes off, that’s the most rewarding part of teaching,” Waisnaen said.
Waisanen’s positive attitude and ability to make students learn have led to his major impact on Oviedo’s students. “He’s extremely supportive of his students and his athletes,” Howard said.
