Heather Kealhofer is starting her second year teaching with the Vicksburg Warren School District, but her teaching career began long before then as a dance instructor.
“I was a dance instructor for 20 years prior to this,” she said. “I taught dance prior to finishing up and going into education.”
Kealhofer taught at Bowmar Elementary School last year, and this year she will be teaching fourth grade at Vicksburg Intermediate School.
“I love working with children, and I have a child who became school aged, and in order to be with my child I wanted to be on his schedule and still work with kids,” she said. “I had to do something that still involved children.”
Kealhofer said her background as a dance instructor has helped her in the classroom.
“I’ve worked with kids from 3 years old to 12th grade my whole life,” she said. “I can handle any age group, and I’ve been exposed to them all. As for classroom management, having a room full of kids isn’t bad when you’ve had 15 3-year olds in tap shoes.”
Kealhofer said she’s also learned a lot about establishing a rapport with parents.
“It’s rejuvenating too, to work with kids,” she said. “They keep you on your toes and keep you young.”
Kealhofer said she tells all of her kids in the classroom that she treats them like her own child.
“At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about, establishing those bonds with those kids,” she said. “I just love them to pieces.”
Kealhofer received an alternate route certification from Alcorn State University, and she is currently enrolled in a master’s program at the university.
When Kealhofer isn’t teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband Charles and son Jacob, 7, and walking in the park.
“I am very active in Junior Auxiliary,” she said. “I love the organization — the service we do and working with kids.”