Mrs. Heidenwith
Second Grade Teacher
March 06, 2010
Putnam County R-1 Schools newest 2nd grade teacher is another Iowegian who just happens to be married to a former Midget. Born in Centerville, Iowa, on May 4, 1977, to Darrell Neal and Patricia Fowler, Alice joined three older sisters and became the last in the family's pecking order.
Her father, a Vietnam War veteran, served several years in the U. S. Navy, was honorably discharged and became the Appanoose County auditor for awhile. He eventually re-enlisted, and his family soon endured the nomadic nature of a career in the military. “I was three when we moved from Centerville to the U. S. Navy base at Norfolk, Virginia,” Mrs. Heidenwith said. "Every four years we moved somewhere and started a new life." One of those tours of duty took the family to the Aloha State. “I didn't appreciate Hawaii's beauty back then. I do now. From second through fifth grade, I attended school there. Dad worked on Ford Island where the USS Arizona Memorial is located.” After a brief pause, she added “Last year, my husband, Cody, and I attended football's Pro Bowl there, and we visited all the magnificent places I'd missed.”
Few civilians can realize the strain of moving and separations that military families must endure. Mrs. Heidenwith's 6th, 7th and part of 8th grade were spent in different schools. During her 8th grade, her mother returned to Cincinnati, Iowa, and Mrs. Heidenwith finished the year in Big Red Country.
While attending Centerville High School, her school activities included cheerleading, flag corps, drill team, choir and drama. “Throughout high school I worked at the Konvenience Korner in Cincinnati,” she said. “I really enjoyed the job.”
Mrs. Heidenwith's role model is her mother, and said, “Mom is the main one I try to be like. She has always been hardworking and puts the family first. Her best advice to me and my sisters was 'You can do anything you set your mind to do'.”
After graduating from high school in 1995, Mrs. Heidenwith spent two years getting her associate degree at Indian Hills Community College. She also continued working at Cincinnati's Konvenience Korner and spent one summer working at Rubbermaid.
Buena Vista College in Ottumwa was Mrs. Heidenwith's next goal. Smiling brightly at the memory, she said, “Mom and I attended school together, and we graduated together in May, 2000. She majored in history and mine was in elementary education.”
Mrs. Heidenwith chose a career in education because “A college teacher impressed me, and preparing children for their future became my ambition.”
While Mrs. Heidenwith was working at Konvenience Korner, a former Putnam County Midget found a reason to stray north and stop at the store. Cody Heidenwith had graduated from Putnam County High School in 1995 and worked at Rathbun Regional Water in Centerville. It wasn't long before they were married.
Mrs. Heidenwith's first teaching job was first grade at St. Mary's Catholic School in Centerville. After four years there, she decided to go south into Missouri where they lived. “I then taught at Milan, Missouri, for five years,” she said. “I taught Title I Reading and was a reading coach." She was then hired as a second grade teacher at Putnam County R1 Elementary. “I love it here,” she said. “Because we lived here, I knew most of the teachers. Our principal, Mrs. Spase, is great to work for.”
The Heidenwiths have two sons: Calvin is 11 years old and in 5th grade, and Zach is 6 years old and in kindergarten. Mrs. Heidenwith said, "The whole family loves sports. We encourage and support their efforts to be the best they can be."
Although Mrs. Heidenwith's main hobby is reading, for a few years the Heidenwith family ran PC Speedway east of Unionville. “We're not doing it this year,” she said. “All that rain the past two years wasn't good for racing on dirt tracks. Besides, our boys' activities are taking up our time."
Several posters are in Mrs. Heidenwith’s classroom, with messages that encourage all to have good manners, share, take turns, listen, help others, and say please and thank you. All are practices Mrs. Heidenwith teaches by example.
