Walter Stephenson ’08 joined the George School community in 1997 with his family, led by his mom, Molly Stephenson, who retired in 2020 after a 23-year tenure teaching Spanish. Walter studied environmental engineering at the University of Delaware, and returned to campus as a science teacher in 2015, where he has become an integral part of the George School community. 

“The thing that keeps me coming back, first and foremost, is the students,” Walter shared. “But I also think the opportunity to share a lot of different interests and sides of myself – that I'm not just teaching science – that's what keeps me inspired to keep teaching here.”

The living and learning experience of George School, according to Walter, plays a role in the community at large and trickles down to the students. “Students see their teachers in so many different facets of life. I’m not just their teacher; I will run into students on the weekends, play songs with them on Live Music Weekend and coach and advise them, in addition to teaching them in the classroom.

“I really think it's easier to be motivated when you're comfortable in a class and around your teachers,” Walter continued. “It allows them to learn better and enjoy their experience as a student.”

 

Walter embraces this position at George School, bringing his interests into all parts of campus life. In the classroom, he teaches IB physics and chemistry. He is also faculty sponsor of the Climate Action Club, an environmental sustainability club on campus, regularly plays with the GS stage band on the saxophone and has coached various sports. He also lived as a dorm parent for five years, and now lives on campus with his partner Karlee. Walter is a go-to for anything from chemistry help, an impromptu game of four square or advice on course selection. 

 

His most recent venture has been establishing the first George School Varsity Rock Climbing team in the 2024–25 school year. Starting as a PE course, Walter gained interest to build a team that now competes alongside other area private schools. Unlike other traditional sports, competitions are individual and scoring is based on difficulty. “Rock climbing is such a personal challenge,” he explained. “It’s a perfect combination of physical discipline and analytical – like a puzzle.”

 

The team built great momentum in their 2024–2025 winter season and are looking forward to further developing the program at George School and at other local schools. 

 

Walter’s inspiration for the team stems from his personal interest in climbing, which began in college and has continued to advance. 

He has taken his time on school breaks away from George School to enrich his passion by climbing sites across the country, including climbing the 3,500-foot route of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park last year. And he does not hesitate to bring his experiences back to George School, educating the community about his takeaways from sleeping on the side of a wall, free climbing and free soloing in a national park.

 

The George School community welcomes him with open arms. "When I talk about students here, I tell everyone how curious they are, how they enjoy learning and also how respectful they are." 

 

This excitement is mirrored in Walter’s teaching style. “There are days where we get to make methane bubbles explode in the chemistry lab and all the students leave buzzing and talking about it. That definitely makes me happy and gives me energy."

 

Living the mission as a lifelong learner, Walter not only finds joy in creating that excitement in his students, but exercising the challenge in his own work. “I get a lot of energy in teaching things that are new for me as well. On one hand, teaching a new course or skill can be exhausting, but when you get to deliver something that's new that gets even one student engaged, it is all worth it.”

 

Look out for Walter and the rock climbing team as they compete this winter!