MOVILLE, Iowa - For nine months out of the year, Heather
Rollison teaches vocal music to Woodbury Central Community School
students in grades two through 12.
In the summer, she keeps on teaching them - one at a time.
For much of her teaching career, Rollison has spent her summer
vacations giving individual voice and piano lessons. She also gives
lessons during the school year, but the summer lessons are more
satisfying, Rollison said, because the students have more time to
devote to their music.
"I just think kids have more time in the summer. A lot of kids
wanted that extra time in the summer," she said.
Twice a week, Rollison spends her days at the school, teaching
students of various ages. She finds summer lessons more relaxing
for her, too, because she doesn't have all her other teaching
duties to worry about.
"I love it. It gives me more one-on-one time. I love to do that
with students," she said. "It's convenient. I do it two days a week
so I'm not home all the time, plus I still get my time off and
vacation."
Teaching private lessons was a summer job Rollison had her eye
on ever since graduating from college. She looked back on her own
youth, when she traveled to take voice lessons from a college
professor.
"I thought it would be so much easier to do it right at my high
school."
And so she has. The schools she's taught at have been
cooperative in letting her use the music room. Even though she
spends nine months at school, going back twice a week is a nice
break in the summer routine, she said.
Plus, it beats other summer jobs she has had during her teaching
career. In the past she worked at a jewelry store, was a
telemarketer and sold insurance.
