Longview resident Mindy Holley may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but that's probably because no one has ever asked her to try. Some people in her life may consider her a true super hero.
|
Theater teacher Mindy Holley displays her collection of Broadway musical posters.
|
Full-time teacher
This year, Judson Middle School crowned Mindy Holley as Teacher of the Year. She's been teaching language arts there for eight years, but it wasn't until she began teaching theater arts six years ago that she really knew what she was called to do.
"Theater has forever been my heartsong," Mindy said. "I graduated college with a theater minor. I'm a big musical buff, and I'm pretty sure I could sing any Broadway song at the drop of a hat."
Her passion for theater poured into her language arts classes. For instance, she was teaching her students about the prose, poems and music that came about during Civil War times. She was playing a song for her class from the Broadway musical, "Civil War," and she began painting a mental portait in her students' minds of what was being depicted on stage.
"I was super descriptive about what emotions the actors were feeling and how interesting the actions were for the audience," Mindy said. "One of my students said, 'We can do that,' and I immediately responded, 'If you can do it, I'll put it together.'"
Mindy put together an hour-and-a-half-long play for the whole school to see. Faculty, staff and students were taken aback by Mindy's hard work and dedication to her students and the craft. So began Mindy's career as a theater arts teacher.
Full-time mentor
For six years, Mindy has been the director, the producer, the choreographer and more for the theater program, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's a lot of work, and I work really hard," she said. "I've been the UIL district coordinator, I've hosted UIL tournaments two years in a row and I've been the end-all, be-all as far as theater is concerned. But I wouldn't trade what I do for anything in the world."
One of Mindy's favorite things to do for her theater students is take them on field trips to see other actors perfecting their craft on stage. For several years they have traveled to see local high school and college performances, as well as professional plays in Dallas and Houston. This past year, Mindy did something she had dreamed about doing for some time: she took her students to New York to get the Broadway experience.
"I took 13 students for four days. We saw two shows (Mama Mia and Altar Boyz), and we attended acting workshops with professional actors," she said. "We were submersed in everything theater. We based our tour on acting, and we got a lot accomplished in just four days."
Full-time mom
Five years ago, Mindy's schedule book was full. Although she had so many things going on, left and right, she still needed her life fulfilled in one more area: she and her husband desperately wanted a child. They decided to adopt a child out of foster care, but had no idea of the surprise that awaited them.
"We got a call asking if we would adopt not one, not two, but three children – a family of two brothers and a sister," Mindy said. "We flipped through their files, filed for adoption in September and had them in our care by November. To date, I believe it's the fastest adoption on record."
Her family now consists of Tavian, 11, whom she describes as a brainiac; M.J., 9, who's continually moving and making noise ... and whose charming grin gets him out of trouble; and Asia, 7, a high-spirited cross between a tomboy and a priss.
"Life's crazy. We're constantly going to baseball or softball games," Mindy said. "My kids always want to see and do, so it keeps me very active."
Full-time healthy
She was giving 100% at home and 100% at school, and the constant care for others started to take its toll on her body.
"I've been fat all my life, and I had been fine with that until about three summers ago," she said.
Mindy was diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes and fatty liver disease, and she knew she had to make a change in her lifestyle. She started getting very tired, at which time she had to make a choice: focus on school or home? That sent her for a loop.
"That was my breaking point. I was 390 lbs. and knew I had to do something," she said. "I underwent gastric bypass surgery, and now I'm a healthy woman. I go to the gym religiously, and I watch what I eat. I got my life back for my children at home and my children at school. I got my life back for all of my kids."
