Faces in the Crowd: Heather Deighton

In 28 years of teaching at Marion Public Schools, Heather Deighton has learned a couple of valuable lessons.

1. You’re never done learning.
2. You can’t forget why you’re here.
   Teaching everything from preschool to 6th grade, Mrs. Deighton certainly hasn’t forgotten why she got into teaching in the first place: Helping kids have an enjoyable learning experience. Many days, it’s part-teaching, part-entertaining. For her current 6th grade students at MHS, it’s a little sense of humor mixed in with a little math, science, English, and geography. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
   A 1990 Northport graduate [with a graduating class of 13], Heather made her way to Marion in 1995, and never looked back. She instantly fell in love with the small-town vibe, and along with her husband Jeremy, raised two of her own Marion graduates, Alison and Jared.
   We caught up with Mrs. Deighton recently where we learned a little bit more about her life, and her career at Marion Public Schools. We learned that Heather Deighton is certainly more than just another face in the crowd.
   Marion Press: Where were you born and raised? What kept you busy growing up?
   Heather: I was raised in Northport, but I was actually born in Kalamazoo. But I was raised in Northport – that’s the only place I remember living. I graduated from high school in 1990. We did not live in town, so we were outside roaming the woods and the yard where we lived a lot. We grew up across from Lake Michigan – not on the Lake Michigan side because that was too expensive, of course! But it was an awesome place to live. I did sports and stuff in school; where you’d hang out at the school from 8 am until 9 pm, that kind of thing. I did enjoy volleyball. That’s the beauty of small schools: short girl gets to play volleyball! I did some helping with coaching when I did my student teaching at Traverse City East Junior High. And that’s when I realized, wow, the other side of the world is very competitive.
   MP: Did you always know you wanted to get into teaching?
   Heather: Not always, no. I have memories of wanting to be a Pizza Hut waitress at one point, or a photographer. But then somewhere along the high school lines, I helped out with some elementary classrooms during study hall – elementary art, specifically, with a lovely woman, Donna Stowe – so I would go help her with her elementary art classes, and I think that was kind of the over the edge push. It was like, sure, I might go into education. Which is why I ended up going to Central [Michigan University].
   MP: So you went to CMU?
   Heather: Yeah, culture shock. Small town, small school. Ended up there, and the first couple of weeks was like, “What am I doing?!”
   MP: Any fond memories of Central?
   Heather: A lot of good memories: The 7-11; going to get Slurpee’s at the 7-11 was almost the highlight of your day because you almost did do it daily. The SAC – the Student Activities Center – was new at the time, and we’d go there and play volleyball. I lived with an RA, and I was an RA, so I was in the mix of college culture the entire time I was there; going to football games, going to basketball games, teaching the kids on your floor how to be a proper Chippewa! I graduated from Central in ’95.
   MP: And then you started at Marion? How’d that come about?
   Heather: At that time – it was the opposite of a teacher shortage – I had applications everywhere in the state. I waited tables to get through college. I remember waiting, in Leland, Michigan, at the Leland Lodge, on some Flint administrators that were up there for some event. I called my dad, and was like, “Could you please bring my resume?” I was getting desperate!
   I interviewed here, with Russ McClain, and I was hired the same year as Steve Henderson and Mary Bell. They called me and said, “Hey, would you want to teach preschool?” We had already resigned ourselves to living in a cute little duplex in Suttons Bay, and I was going to sub. So within the next weekend we were down here, and Diana [Salisbury] had found us a place to live in a Frank England rental right on Blevins Street. And so it began.
   MP: 28 years now, what all have you taught?
   Heather: A little bit all over the place. I did start teaching preschool. I taught preschool for a couple of years. I taught 1st grade for a couple of years with Tammy Ladd – best mentor teacher ever! I went to 4th grade… taught 5th grade, went back to 1st grade for one year when they needed. Did 6th grade in there. Then back to 5th grade, then 6th grade…
   MP: So you were kind of the bouncer teacher! What have you enjoyed the most about teaching?
   Heather: I think people that stay in teaching – I’ve been in it long enough now – that I can kind of see the other side, where people do get tired. But then I think: these kids now, this is their only 6th grade year. This is their 12-year-old life experience. And you just want that to be the very best that it can be. So when I start to feel a little tired, you go back to, “What am I doing? Why am I here? What’s most important?” It’s the kids.
   My son told me one time, “You know, Mom, some people think you’re a little crazy.” Because I will do random things. They’re 12 years old. They’re not always focused on academics. It’s the stage of life that they’re in. So sometimes you do have to be a little entertaining in a way; you’re half teacher, half entertainer. And then you forget when you’re with adults, and you slip into random accents…
   MP: Outside of work, what keeps you busy?
   Heather: I sometimes joke that my hobby is grading papers! Now that we’re empty nesters, we’ll just jet off to a little town and explore it sometimes; find some dinner somewhere at a little mom and pop restaurant. I’ve kind of reconnected with people I’ve graduated with a little bit, so we’ll skirt up to Traverse City or Grand Rapids and see some shows. I do love to read – some people would call it an addiction. I feel like that was cultivated by my parents, and it must be cultivated continually, because my son – who wouldn’t read unless it was for a 5th grade competition – we just had a conversation last night: He’s reading this and this and this, and I’m reading this and this. But books are like food. Some people say they don’t like to read. Well, that’s bologna. Everybody likes to eat, you just like what you like. If you’re not reading it’s because you haven’t found the books that you like.
   MP: What have you enjoyed the most about being a part of the Marion Community? What were some of your first impressions?
   Heather: Everybody says this, but it’s true. People who like the small-town vibe… Marion has the small-town vibe. Friendly. You’re going to see people you know; you walk down the street, you go into the grocery store – these are people that you’re going to see every day. You can go to the football games, and support the local team. And because I was connected to the local school, that happened pretty quickly.
   Small schools, sometimes you struggle to have curriculum opportunities and stuff, but my kids got to play sports, my kids took dual classes. If we didn’t have teachers going AP like the bigger schools, we at least have ways to get them ready. And that’s pretty cool.
   That’s the part that I like. You have your homecomings, your little parades. That’s nice. People know your kids; I knew if my kids were speeding through town because someone would tell me. They would clue you in.
   MP: In 28 years of teaching, what have you learned?
   Heather: You’re never done learning. The stuff they thought they were teaching you to prepare you for a classroom, is not what’s happening in a classroom now. Technology, especially. I had to demonstrate competency on an overhead projector and VCR. You don’t see those in schools these days. The whole Google classroom, you just jump in and start figuring things out the best you can. So you’re never done learning. And you’ve got to remember why you’re here.
   MP: What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
   Heather: My top three: One, I kind of go by, “Love God, Love Others.” That’s just why you’re here on Earth. (2) My dad, Ron, always said, “If you’re having trouble making a decision that’s because you need more information.” And (3) Mr. Mikulich’s advice, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” I do use that one a lot, because it’s kind of true. Who you hang with impacts your life, so surrounding yourself with positive people is [important]. And enjoy life. You’ve got to enjoy life.
   MP: Who have been your role models over the years?
   Heather: My parents, [Ron] and my mom [Rusty] – she was a teacher; I do come from a family of teachers. And now Alison is teaching too. But your parents are your first teachers. They really are role models. I’ve had some really good bosses in my life, Greg Mikulich being one of them – there’s just a lot to learn from some people.