Heather Andrews, Kevin Andrews, Husband/Wife Teachers at Old Bonhomme School

This is part II of a series, going one on one with the husband and wife teaching duo of Kevin and Heather Andrews at Old Bonhomme Elementary School in the Ladue School District. Last week we talked to Kevin, this week we spent time with Heather Andrews, fifth grade teacher.

How did you both meet?

Heather: Kevin and I met when he was subbing for a teacher during summer school.  I was working for Ladue in their summer school program as a teaching assistant.   He already had a job at Old Bonhomme and I was hoping to be hired.  But, Kevin and I officially met in 2001 when we first started working at Old Bonhomme.  I had been an assistant during the spring of the previous school year and when a position opened I applied and got the job.

 

Who started teaching at OB first?  How soon after did the other start working there?

Heather: Kevin and I both started working at Old Bonhomme the same year.  Although he was hired first as he likes to remind me.

Is it hard working in the same school as your spouse?

Heather: No, I do not think it is hard working in the same school as my husband.  We actually hardly ever see each other in the building.  Kevin and I are very professional during the school day.   Sometimes people don't even know we are the married couple in our building.

What makes the situation work so well?

Heather: I think what makes our situation work so well is a mutual respect we have for each other.  We understand what it means it be a teacher, the time and energy it takes.  My husband also has a wonderful sense of humor which also helps.  

Have you found any difficulties having your spouse work at the same location?

Heather: There is quite a bit of sensitive information working in a school building.  This makes this difficult at times.   Also, it is hard to leave to get our children.  Our oldest daughter is in Kindergarten and her school gets out at 3 pm. So instead of sending her to after care my family helps out by picking her up.  It is also hard when we have a sick child.  My mom many times has stayed home with our children.

What made each of you choose your prospective grades that you teach?

Heather: I did my student teaching in fifth grade and loved this age children.  When a position opened up in the fifth grade at Old Bonhomme, I interviewed and was offered the job.  I had been an assistant in the spring for this grade level at the end of 2000-2001 school year.  

What are differences that you each have in regards to your teaching style?

Heather: Kevin tends to be more organized than I am, which can frustrate him about me.    

How do you both get along at school?  How does it work out in terms of interacting with fellow staff-are you both separate during the day?  Eat lunch together, different times?

Heather: We hardly see each other during the school day.  During staff meetings we do not sit together.  We try and serve on different committees in our building.  Our lunch times are not the same.  The only time I ever remember having the same lunch was the first year we were working together.  

Do you leave the school talk at the door or do you discuss things at home?

Heather: We try and leave school behind in the car before we get home or pick up our children.  We, after Kevin's urging made this change as our whole lives were becoming school.  It was important for our relationship to have other areas and interests we could talk about.  
How do students deal with this whole husband/wife team teaching situation?

Heather: I am not sure that it is a big deal for the students.  Many think that it is neat, but I have yet to hear anyone complain about this...at least to me.  

Do you both come separately to school, or share a ride?

Heather: Most days we drive to school together.  We take our children to daycare and school which takes us about 45 minutes.  It is another way we have family time and then we sometimes talk shop after we drop our children off.  However some days we have to drive separately because of parent or district meetings.  I miss riding with him on these days.

What would be the one thing you would want your students to come out of the end of the year remembering about you?

Heather: That they learned about how they personally learn best.  I also hope that they have learned how to advocate for themselves in their own education.  No teacher every taught me how to speak up if I did not understand something.  I encourage my parents to work with me and help their child find their voice to speak to me when they do not understand something or have a problem with a peers.  

This is an important life long skill.  I also hope they leave my classroom knowing that their teacher cared about them.