Ever since I was working at a Japanese school up to now, all of my students have always called me “Asami-sensei.” And in return, I naturally call them “OO-san” (student's first name + san)  with respect. In Japan, keeping a comfortable distance in relationships is considered polite. One way we maintain that distance is through how we address each other  — especially with “〜san.” For people you’ve just met, classmates you aren’t close to yet, colleagues, or anyone in a work se