About Me
Educator, writer, traveler, National Board Mentor, Michigan apple snob, potter wannabe, and risk taker...as long as it doesn't involve eating bugs...
Educational Background: Loyola University Chicago, B.A. English, Minor History; The University of Chicago, Master of Liberal Arts; National Board Certified since 2007
Years in Teaching: 26
Subjects Taught: 9-12 English Literature & Language; World History
Additional Professional Activities: National Board Mentor; Illinois Educational Association Virtual Coach; MTSS Instructional Coach; Equity & Diversity Leadership Team; Sophomore Class Board sponsor
Personal Activities: AFS Host family (2015-16, 2022-23); FCC Crystal Lake - Member of Jubilate Handbell Choir; Refugee Task Force & Mentor; Stephen Minister
Most Proud Moment: Well, I'd have to say taking the whole family to live, learn, and teach in the Czech Republic for my Fulbright Teacher Exchange Grant in 2007-2008. Teaching alongside educators with whom I couldn't converse and throwing my two daughters - a 15 and a 7-year-old at the time - into Czech Schools without knowing the language demanded that we be open-minded and adaptive, even when we were culturally exhausted. My husband began writing his dissertation that year and served as the family cruise-director. Thanks to my Czech boss František Dubský, my mentors Zbyněk Přikryl and Mirka Čírtková, and friend Hani Vitovská Grafová among others, our time in the Czech Republic remains one of the best years of my family's life. My teaching was transformed; my understanding of culture was expanded; and my views and perspectives of everything in between were challenged in critical, foundational ways.
"Interesting is easy; Beautiful is difficult." - Gerald Edmonds
Many teachers can point to model educators who inspired them to join the profession. My parents were two of those people, as was Mr. Ed from the quote above - an influential college choir director whose musicianship continues to inspire excellence and who was also a peer & friend of my parents. Their collective pursuit of excellence and beauty in their teaching became the standard by which I guide my own professional development. Excellence - or at least the pursuit of it - demands constant reflection and practice. Doing so is certainly not easy, but the rewards are exponential as long as we share that growth with others - our students and colleagues alike. My website is one such attempt at sharing my learning and my pursuit of teaching excellence with fellow educators.
Ways to Contact Me:
Email - heidi.rockwell713@gmail.com
Twitter - @hrockwell_nbct
LinkedIn - Heidi Rockwell
Weekly Teaching Schedule of Classes
My students in the Czech Republic took - on average - 14 different courses over a 4-week rotation of classes. František posted the US flag for my benefit so that I knew which week of classes were were in. Because I couldn't speak or read Czech, I often missed changes to the daily schedule, which resulted in me showing up to an empty classroom on occasion. I certainly learned how to communicate despite a language barrier, to adapt and roll with the punches on occasion, and most certainly to laugh along the way!
Showing Mia the sights in NYC.
Hosting foreign exchange students allows you to see your cultural patterns and values from another person's experience. To explain why we do what we do inevitably causes us to question everything, which often results in a re-evaluation and re-affirmation of those values. Hosting exchange students is a humbling, reflective, insightful, and joyful experience, which has the potential to expand everyone's global perspective.
Sifa's certificate for making progress in learning English.
In conjunction with Exodus World Services and my FCC faith community, I've served as a mentor to our Congolese refugee family since the spring of 2019. They came to the Chicago area after living in refugee camps in Tanzania since childhood. I wish I could capture Sifa's ebullience and her infectious laughter here...hopefully her smile says it all.