We have to imagine that once summer vacation hits, most teachers are ready for a break.
Let’s just say, for example, like for the next two and a half months. The students sure are ready to get away from tests and essays, books and homework.
But even after almost two decades of teaching at Bow High School (she’s been there since it opened in 1997) and likely with the ability to prepare for the following school year with her eyes closed, Heidi Pauer couldn’t wait to start working toward next year.
Although the one change heading into next year is that Pauer won’t actually be back in the classroom. At least not her classroom that is.
Pauer, a Concord resident, was awarded the 2015 Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, meaning she gets the year off from her classes at Bow and instead will be using her time to travel to schools all around the state in an effort to help educators and students.
“I’m even more serious, more dedicated to education,” Pauer said. “Now I’m thinking bigger picture.”
After being one of five finalists last year, Pauer unfortunately was not selected. But the bright side is that if she was, her sabbatical would have already come to an end instead of just getting started.
So after a mere 10 minutes of disappointment, Pauer decided to take another shot at the application process and came back with a more refined approach. Now she will use her time to foster creativity at schools throughout New Hampshire.
“I knew I was going to keep reapplying,” Pauer said. “I knew I was close and it actually made me stronger to come back again.”
Most of her work will take place at the high school level, although she already has plans to work with middle schools and even fourth grade students in Bow who will be putting on a musical about N.H. history. It really doesn’t matter what age or grade level it is, Pauer just wants to spread her excitement about education.
“It’s really about collaboration,” Pauer said.
At Bow, Pauer is identified as an English teacher, but doesn’t let that define her role as an educator. She created her own class called Art in Writing, an elective centered around her passions – art and writing. They do anything from song writing and photography to film making and dance.
“Just because we don’t have the expertise in something doesn’t mean we can’t try it,” Pauer said. “I wanted to try something different and it’s sort of my answer to breaking kids out of their comfort zone.”
During the next school year, Pauer will be working to build creative confidence in students, while helping teachers come up with a plan to implement it. Over the years, she’s seen the lack of creativity at the high school level. That’s why she wanted to essentially become a creativity coach.
“A lot of times they just need someone to spark that idea,” Pauer said. “It’s really about trying new things to uncover their creativity.”
She views her “job” for the school year as part consultant, part art in residency and part cheerleader. Who wouldn’t want a little rah rah in their lives? She’ll write new curriculum, create projects and even work in the classroom.
“It’s based on what the school needs, the teacher needs and the students need,” Pauer said. “Creating curriculum is something I really, really, really enjoy.”
So far, 26 schools have signed up for her services, and that’s with more than a month left before teachers start final preparations for the first day of school. She’s already been meeting with teachers and administrations and plans to do more before the year begins. But really, Pauer will go to a school at any time during the year, given she has the time.
One thing that will be quite different than the last 22 years is her schedule. No longer will she be restricted by the 7:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. school day. She won’t have to prepare lessons for the next day or grade papers and tests.
“I will miss my students. The connections I have with them is why I teach,” Pauer said.
She’ll just need to know where she’s going that day. So any ideas that she’ll be sitting around in her pajamas all day watching day time television are probably just what we would like to do with a year off from our day job.
“The schedule thing will be tricky. It will definitely be a puzzle,” she said.
Prior to her presentation to the charitable foundation, Pauer did a dry run for one of her classes. But it just didn’t feel right. So she scrapped most of it and did something that felt more like her. It must have worked – she did get awarded the sabbatical after all.
“I think my hope for the year is a ripple affect,” Pauer said. “I want to be an agent of change.”
The Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical was established in 1986 by then-Gov. John Sununu and the New Hampshire legislature to honor the life and work of McAuliffe, a Concord teacher who tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986. The charitable foundation will pay her salary for the year.
“What the charitable foundation has done for me is blown open the doors,” she said. “I’m so grateful that Christa McAuliffe took that big chance. She’s paved the way for someone like me. How else would I have been able to do this?”
Pauer will have a website up and running soon, which is being designed by a former student, but you can go to her Facebook page, facebook.com/TeachingPossibility for updates or email her at TeachingPossibility@gmail.com.
