Heather Nassar
Hometown: Flint
High School: Carman-Ainsworth
Major: Elementary Education-Language Arts and Social Science
Year of Graduation from UM-Flint: 1997
I was attending Mott College when I was researching the next phase of my educational career. I spoke to many of my friends that went away to school and heard the scary stories of being in lecture halls of hundreds of students. They felt as though they were a number and not a student with anything to contribute to the class. I knew that type of environment was not the place for me. I took a tour of UM-Flint and thought it was perfect!
I remember engaging in meaningful, heated conversations on topics ranging from politics to ethics with the students and teachers in my Education Block classes. Many of my professors made the effort to get to know me and that was important. They were very realistic about what I would be facing as a teacher on a deeper, realistic level. UM-Flint has had a significant impact on the type of educator and person I am today!
I live in Flint and work for the Flint Community Schools. I have taught at Anderson Elementary for 9 years. I am currently teaching small groups of specialized instruction for reading and math. I have taught Kindergarten through sixth grade. I head the student council at my school, which is active in community events and raise funding for organizations in the community. I won an award for the Center for Global Partnership in 2004, a project with GISD and the International Institute of Flint. In the past I served in the SEHS Alumni Club. I am currently the secretary for the UM-Flint Alumni Board of Governors.