Believe it or not, LRCA teachers do more than the work they put into their classrooms. Between balancing families, hobbies, and their jobs, they’re not only impressive, but seemingly superhuman. Warrior Times gathered a few stories on some teachers around school and their hidden talents. Next time you’re in a class, maybe ask your teacher about their outside of school hobbies!
The definition of discipline is, “training to obey rules or develop self-control, achieving orderly conduct, or a specific field of study,” but not to Mrs. O’Keefe. She’s an English and Communications teacher as well as fitness instructor of 25 years. From teaching pilates to boot camp, she said, “I want stuff to be hard in class, because we can do hard because the Lord equips us to do hard.” She does her best to meet students where they are and push them to go above and beyond. Fitness has given Mrs. O’Keefe a broader outlook on discipline and how she applies it to the classroom. She gets up at 5 a.m. because she knows she has to be there.
Ms. Dumas, a fine arts teacher in the high school, is creative both in and out of the classroom. She wrote and illustrated her own children’s book, PJ Finds a Home. What started as a project in an advanced studio art class in college became something more meaningful after she felt a strong connection to her hometown, El Dorado, Ark. The story follows PJ, her family’s rescue dog, as he explores the landmarks of El Dorado before finding his way home. Ms. Dumas said, “Completing a book from start to finish required long-term dedication, creative problem-solving, and vulnerability in sharing my work publicly.”
As an English teacher and a tennis coach, Dr. Covert connects to communicate, to demonstrate, to listen, as well as to hold students accountable on the court and in the classroom. Dr. Covert was a collegiate level tennis player at Harding University and spent several years as a tennis pro at Pleasant Valley Country Club prior to being recruited to Chenal Country Club in 2008. He now contributes as a part-time tennis pro at Chenal Country Club and is proud to have coached 14 Division 1 tennis players. “I help these players win more matches by teaching effective shot selection, and that’s really rewarding,” Dr. Covert said.
Whether he’s playing for an ensemble or teaching kids orchestra, Mr. Moya said, “Musical ensembles are a representation of our spiritual walk, it’s a wonderful gift of music.” Mr. Moya has performed with Conway Symphony Orchestra, The River City Men’s Chorus, and regularly in a string quartet for weddings and other occasions. His instruction in the classroom is shaped by these experiences. He said, “My teaching style relies on patience for my students because of the understanding of what it takes to play at a higher level.” Performing at a high level, he has learned about patience and active listening to the other musician’s melodies.
