My name is Christy Heiple, and I am in my final semester in the MIS program. I live in Bismarck, North Dakota. My husband, Kris, is a middle school counselor, and we have four children: Wesley (15), Bre (10), Graeme (4), and Levi (2). We also have two extremely snuggly and slightly mischievous cats (Rajan and Lego).
I have been in education for 17 years, with 14 years spent as a classroom teacher and 3 years as a Library Media Specialist. I have had the amazing opportunity to teach in various locations, including Bronx, New York; Erie, Pennsylvania; Detroit, Michigan; New Delhi, India; and for the past 12 years, in Bismarck, North Dakota. Right now, I am a K-5 Library Media Specialist in two public elementary schools.
I am passionate about digital literacy and cybersecurity. I love every part of my job, from teaching students how to find good-fit books to coding, creating different kinds of digital media, finding and citing reliable sources, and so much more. Watching the students grow in their curiosity and confidence is a constant reminder of why I do what I do. I also enjoy sharing new ideas and tech tools with the teachers in my buildings and providing professional development within the district.
Most of my free time is spent supporting my children in their activities. Wesley plays the trumpet in the high school marching band and is involved in DECA. Bre takes horse riding lessons and ballet. Graeme plays soccer and wants to start T-ball this summer. Levi’s favorite pastimes are unloading all the kitchen cabinets, climbing onto the kitchen table, and trying to flip over the back of the couch, but I’m sure he’ll be in organized sports in the near future.
When I do have time to myself, I enjoy building a puzzle (specifically the Dowdle brand) or reading a book. I also dabble in writing and aspire to be a published author someday.
