In a flurry of balloons and applause, Mr. Eric Scheiber was named Westwood’s 2023 “Teacher of the Year” on Thursday, Feb. 9. Gifted with a succulent plant arrangement, the administrative team honored both his love of biology and his dedication to teaching.

“I was speechless,” Mr. Scheiber said. “[This award] is really validating for all [my] hard work. It’s so nice to be recognized by my peers.”

The Teacher of the Year award is one of the highest honors a Westwood teacher can receive. The selection process begins with a faculty-wide vote on their choice of candidate, after which the top three candidates create videos that demonstrate their respective teaching philosophies. Approaching the end of his fourth year at Westwood, Mr. Scheiber has become one of the most beloved teachers by teachers and students alike.

“I really like how [Mr. Scheiber] is one of the most thoughtful teachers,” Katryna Yuan ‘23 said. “He always does [everything he can] for us, whether that be posting and creating extra material or staying after school to help us with our [IB experiments].”

Mr. Scheiber teaches Human Body Systems, IB Biology, and IB Sports Exercise & Health Science. Many of his students across his classes believe that he relates to them on a personal level, allowing them to learn more effectively.

“I love that he’s always super fun and cracking jokes with everybody, but is also able to teach us and make sure everything we do has a purpose,” Keira Berkaw ‘23 said. “So we all end up learning something even though we’re having fun.”

Mr. Scheiber helped introduce the IB Sports Exercise & Health Science class to Westwood for the first time this year, combining his love of teaching complex anatomy with his background as a college cross country and track athlete.

My favorite thing about [IB Sports Exercise & Health Science] is how applicable it is,” Helen Le ‘23 said. “Considering [that] Mr. Scheiber has literally been building this class from the ground up, he’s definitely been making it unique and really fun. His genuine interest in the subjects he teaches is infectious and encourages me to want to learn more.”

Alongside teaching, Mr. Scheiber had been working toward his Master’s degree in Biology for the past four years, and recently graduated in December 2022. Even with his diverse pursuits, Mr. Scheiber has solidified his teaching philosophy to best serve his students.

“I just try to be a team player, put the needs of students first, and keep learning,” Mr. Scheiber said.