By Corinne Gries
Students at Bremen High School often describe Jennifer’s classroom as safe and energetic with a dash of crazy. She loves to cook and her biggest joy outside of the classroom is when her four children are at home and gathered around the table eating, laughing, and playing games. One piece of advice Jennifer has for new teachers is: “Don’t expect students to be adults. They are not. Provide a safe nest for them to screw up, learn, and evolve. Love them like crazy. They will remember the love.”
Hometown: Mishawaka, IN
Current City: Bremen, IN
College/Degree: IUB and IUSB: Bachelor of Arts in Literature, IUSB: Secondary Certification, IUSB: Master of English
Current school and position: Bremen High School
Chairperson of the English and Foreign Language department
Years in teaching: This is my twenty-fifth year. I taught for seven years at Argos.
Your go-to resources that support you and your students: For me: prayer.
For us: I try to plug in little wisdom nuggets whenever I can--during a poem, when discussing the basics of an argumentative essay, while sharing a project on a film analysis--that help students with their mental health or with being a better human.
Describe your school in one sentence: Bremen High School is a family (cheesy, yes, but true) in which we take care of each other, and our staff truly loves our students.
Favorite book you read this year: I am reading my way through the Outlander series. This series has really gotten me through COVID. I approached it as a silly romance that was recommended to me but was surprised to discover that the author Diana Gabaldon has researched extensively. I am currently finishing book seven. I also really enjoyed The Song of Achilles and Circe by Madeline Miller.
Your go-to activities to recharge: I walk like crazy. It is my time to pray, to plan, to be still mentally, and to listen to podcasts. I read, usually novels, which are like free vacations. And y’all know on a teacher’s salary we can’t afford many of the real kind.
During this unprecedented time as a teacher, share how you and your students have worked together to tackle the challenges of virtual and/or person instruction. COVID has taught me to be more chill. As a type A, I am to-do-list driven. But now to-do lists are taking a backseat to being well and making sure we are well together. (It doesn’t hurt that this is the first year that the sophomores will not have ISTEP; I feel the instant relief from tension and pressure that I put on myself each school year.)
Interesting tidbits: My parents were both teachers, my only sibling is a professor (now a college administrator), and our two daughters are education majors. We have two sons, but they are not in college yet...
Share what gives you energy in your classroom: I am constantly energized by the students. I absolutely LOVE my job. I love it less during COVID, but I feel blessed every day to be able to care for and learn from my students.
The students at Bremen High School in Bremen, Indiana are fortunate to have Jennifer Heiter as their teacher; her dedication to the profession and students is an asset to the community.
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