Freeport High School is excited to welcome four new teachers to the English department: Ariana Tolu-Honary, Corey Scoma, Laura Stocker, and Sarah Buchmann.
Corey Scoma
Scoma is a sophomore English teacher at Freeport High School.
Since Scoma began college, he has known that he wants to be an educator. Scoma had always thought he would be a physical education teacher, but as he went to college, he discovered his love and passion for English.
“It took me to my first college class of English to realize I was like, man, these stories are awesome,” Scoma said. “I love finding the theme in books and analyzing and discussing with my peers, and seeing the professor get into it. It was actually college where my perspective changed, and my love for English really grew.”
Scoma received his bachelor’s degree from Kansas Lesli University, where he played football. Scoma has also earned his master’s degree from Missouri State University and is currently working on his specialist degree in education and leadership.
Scoma was born and raised in Missouri. He states that the Missouri education system is trying to improve, but Illinois has the best education system, according to Scoma.
“Missouri is trying to better there education system, but it’s best known in the Midwest that Illinois has a really good education system,” he said.
Ariana Tolu-Honary
Tolu-Honary is a first-year English and Creative Writing teacher at Freeport High School.
Tolu-Honary was inspired to work as a teacher by her mother because she had grown up here in Freeport. Tolu-Honary graduated from Freeport High School back in the year 2020. She said that the reason she chose to work at Freeport High School is that she is comfortable and used to the environment, and she feels at home
Tolu-Honary graduated from Beloit College in Wisconsin, where she played in the jazz band and majored in history education.
Sarah Buchmann
Sarah Buchmann is a Freshman English teacher here at Freeport High School.
Not only is Buchmann a teacher, but she is also a garden assistant.
Buchman is from the North Shore in Chicago, where her high school was featured in the movie Mean Girls.
Buchmann attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. She thought she would be a music teacher
“I got into the program and I was like, this is something I’m not enjoying,” she said.
Buchmann’s biggest motivation is watching her students grow. “You were just a baby. Why are you driving?” she said about watching her students grow up.
Laura Stocker
Laura Stocker is a Comprehensive Strategies teacher at Freeport High School.
Stocker began her teaching career at Carl Sandburg, where she taught 5th and 6th grade, but was primarily a coordinator at Jones Farrar Elementary School, where she taught 4th grade.
Stocker’s goal is to help students who lack motivation or struggle with mental health issues.
“I had to go observe the students at Jones Farrar, and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve seen.”
Stocker graduated from Illinois State University and continued to get her master’s degree in 2009, reading and structure from Aurora University.
Stocker also has some interesting hobbies, as she knows how to play the ukulele.
Stocker is hoping to gain the feeling of success and connection.
“I just wanna be part of something bigger and enjoy myself with this age group,” Stocker said.
