Enthusiastic and caring, Gloria Manuel Woolson loved working with kids. She pursued academia because of her high school guidance counselor, who recognized her potential in the field, and quickly found she had made the right choice. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1965, Ms. Woolson got right to work. Her first professional position was fifth-grade teacher at Auburn Enlarged City School District, followed by sixth-grade teacher and third-grade teacher at Jordan-Elbridge Central School District, and adjunct teacher at Cayuga Community College and Onondaga Community College. She retired in 2017.
As a lifelong learner herself, Ms. Woolson was always seeking to improve and get better. She knew she had to learn new techniques for the new generations, so she returned to school to obtain a Master of Arts in curriculum development from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1985. She also became affiliated with prominent professional organizations like the Onondaga County Teachers Association.
In recognition of her hard work and dedication, Ms. Woolson was honored with a number of accolades over the years. Some notable ones include the Special Service Award from the Onondaga County Teachers Association and the Excellence in Teaching Award from the School of Education at Syracuse University, as well as inclusion in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who of American Women. In her eyes, however, the greatest reward of all was when her students came back and called her their favorite teacher. She was proud to know the impact she was able to have on their lives.
Now, Ms. Woolson is focusing her attention on her hobbies and civic activities. She is currently active with the Plainville United Church of Christ, where she packs food for the food pantry, and with the local recreation center, where she leads water aerobics classes. Ms. Woolson also spends time exercising, reading, and traveling. She will have been to all of the continents within the next year.