Scott Wood began teaching choir at Weber High School in the fall of 1993, and he’s been there ever since.

“I went to Weber High as a kid, and it kind of feels like I never graduated. Every year, the students graduate and move on, and I still come back year after year.”
But now, it’s finally time for Scott to graduate. Retiring after a lifetime of teaching has been one of the hardest things he’s ever done. How does it feel? “It feels bittersweet. I’m happy about all the things I’ve been able to do, and happy about the incredible experience that it’s been. But on the day I announced my retirement, I bawled like a baby.” It’s time to let down the curtain on spending each day with the students, traveling with them, and doing a job that’s more like just having fun doing his favorite things every day. Mr. Wood feels like it’s important for everyone to participate in music. “Choir is like being part of a family and a community. It’s an opportunity to make connections with people. When you sing to someone, you’re serving them.”
Mr. Wood has taught choir for 36 years. A native of Huntsville, he started out in Ogden Valley at Valley Jr High and Snowcrest. He then spent some time at North Ogden Jr. High before beginning 27 years at our own Weber High School. He’s taught over 7,000 students over the years, including his own four sons.
There have been many wonderful experiences that have been part of Mr. Wood’s time at WHS. He loved participating every year in All-State Choir. In 2001, he led the 2001 Jr High State Honor Choir in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. In 2002, he led the State High School Men’s Honor Choir. That same year, he was part of a special concert for the Winter Olympics. The Weber High Choir was privileged to be the guest choir for Michael McLean’s Forgotten Carols for many years.
Mr. Wood and his wife, Dani, both enjoyed working on Jr High and High School musicals. They’ve done about 75 shows since 1984. Was there a favorite? “I can’t really have a favorite. If I say I have a favorite, that would mean I didn’t like the others, and I loved all of them.” One aspect of Mr. Wood’s career that became one of his favorite things was teaching music to students with special needs. These students frequently joined the mainstream classes for music. This was a unique opportunity for the kids to interact, and it was a growing experience for everyone. It taught them compassion and how to work with lots of different people. Mr. Wood recalls, “One of the best parts was how much the kids loved the music; it made them come alive.”