THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409160268
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
After spending three years fighting crime, John Heft, 27, wanted a change.
As a police officer, Heft said he wasn't fulfilling his purpose in life. ``I was nothing but reactive as a cop,'' he said. ``I couldn't take a pro-active stance in helping people.
``I felt empty . . . like I was getting nothing out of work,'' he added. ``I needed something where I could see the results.''
So he made a career change. A big one.
``Mr. Heft'' is the new kindergarten teacher in Room 8 at Fairfield Elementary School.
Those results he wanted are showing up daily in smiling faces, attentiveness and eagerness to learn. ``I feel like I'm giving them more than I was giving them out on the streets,'' said the first-year teacher, who is one of three male kindergarten teachers in the school system this year.
Taking a new position meant a world of changes for Heft. He traded his basic blue uniform for dress shirts and cartoon character ties. He left the mugshots, empty desks and stacks of paperwork at the precinct for a classroom with a bright blue file cabinet, miniature chairs and a dinosaur bulletin board.
He even replaced his squad car with a white Hyundai bearing the appropriate personalized license plate: KNDR KOP.
``Everyone calls me `Kindergarten Cop','' Heft said.
Even though his wife, Karen, who is a third-grade teacher at Bettie F. Williams Elementary, was able to give him tips on what to expect in his new job, the road to elementary education was no smooth ride for the street patrol officer.
With a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Radford University already under his belt, Heft began classes at Norfolk State University last fall heading toward a master's degree in early childhood education. He squeezed a full-time load of classes into an already packed work week, which was an alternating schedule of day, evening and midnight shifts.
``It was a lot of work,'' Heft said. ``It was something I wanted to do and I wanted to get it over with quick.'' Although it was a rough schedule, he received his teacher's certification for kindergarten through fourth grade in the spring.
Two weeks into the school year,Heft is sure he made the right decision. ``Kindergarten is so great because you see all these light bulbs popping off,'' he said. ``That's the neatest thing about teaching - the energy they have and their willingness to learn.''
Although Heft can point out a number of differences, the teaching business and police patrol are comparable in some ways. ``In both fields, you're working with people and trying to make society better in some way,'' he said.
Besides being people-oriented, both are challenging jobs. ``It's hard to build rapport with a group of 5-year-olds, but it's something you have to do,'' Heft said. ``If they don't trust you, they're not going to perform for you.''
Although Heft told the students about his former job, it's not something he talks about every day. ``I told them once and they thought it was really cool,'' he said. ``Now I'm just Mr. Heft, the teacher.''
Not only is he teaching, Heft is learning from the children. ``I have learned the importance of patience and praise,'' he said. ``If you feel good about them, they have no choice but to feel good about themselves.''
Heft plans to return to Norfolk State in the spring to finish his master's degree. He enjoys the field because ``it's always changing and you get a new batch of kids every year,'' he said.
``I plan to retire from education,'' Heft added. ``I guess you could say I have found my niche.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by CHARLIE MEADS
``I feel like I'm giving them more than I was . . . on the
streets,'' says policeman-turned-teacher John Heft.
Changing careers brough many changes for John Heft, 27. The former
police officer replaced his squad car with a white Hyundai bearing
the appropriate personalized license plate: KNDR KOP. ``Everyone
calls me `Kindergarten Cop','' Heft said.
by CNB