Introducing Rhea

Making History

My name is Rhea Heggaton, a fifth grade bilingual teacher in Addison School District 4. I am a career changer and this is my third year teaching. My first year in the profession was spent “making history” with Chicago Public Schools in 2012. Educators and concerned citizens may remember the CPS school strike and subsequent school closings in 2012-2013. I was a teacher at the late Peabody Elementary School, one of the 50 schools shuttered that year. Despite the obstacles presented I persevered, finding a job in my current district.

My 15-seconds of Fame (Noticias Univision, 6/15/13)

Prior Lives

Prior to becoming a teacher I was the Director of Human Resources for a small company in Evanston for five years. In search of a change I moved to Mexico from 2003-2010. Life was not all SCUBA diving and sunbathing, contrary to what my friends believe. I worked in the travel industry and was ultimately the Director of Content for one of the top three online travel agencies in Mexico.

The Path to the Present

Upon returning to Chicago in December 2010 I began working as a paraprofessional and obtained my Type 29 Transitional Bilingual Certificate. I started taking classes at Dominican University in 2012 to earn my MAT in Elementary Education along with bilingual and ELL endorsements. This is my last semester of classes!

The Best Career Ever

Despite this being a difficult job (understatement of the century) this is the first one I love. It is impossible to get bored when you are teacher, which has always been a challenge I have faced in my professional and personal lives. Even though I say I would like to teach the same grade two years in a row, I secretly like the new challenge presented by the change.

Words of Wisdom from a Newbie

Three very positive teachers. (Personal Photo)

My advice to new teachers is to find the positive teachers in your school. Avoid the negative ones like the plague. (Hint: In my experience negative ones are usually found in the teacher’s lounge.) Positive teachers will always see the bright side and make you find something to laugh about. They will commiserate with you, but they will help you find productive solutions to problems. Actually, this is good advice for any teacher no matter how long they have been in the profession.