A New Face At MVHS

It all stemmed from a horrible house fire that happened to her in 2nd grade. “My classmates had a hard time talking to me,” said new Moapa Valley High School math teacher, Heather Smith. “What do you say to someone whose family just lost everything? That’s when I decided I wanted to become a teacher. My own 2nd grade teacher helped me so much during a traumatic time.”

Later, it was Smith’s math teachers that helped her find her true passion. “Math comes easy to me and is easy for me to explain to others,” she said.

This is her first teaching position. MVHS Principal Grant Hanevold hired her over the phone after searching the country for someone who could teach the upper level math. “I was fortunate to get her,” Hanevold said. “After typing in all my requirements her name popped up. I called her up before several other schools would have snagged her. I was fortunate in that way.”

Smith teaches fundamental math, geometry honors, and applied algebra 2.

Smith moved here from Ohio in early August. When asked whether she has felt welcome a broad smile tells the story.

To illustrate, Smith relates that, shortly after arriving here, she had to have an emergency appendectomy! “Having only my husband here, in a brand new place was hard,” she said. “But the (MVHS Secretary) Collett Phillipenas brought me homemade chicken noodle soup, bread, and chocolate cake.”

Smith says that she has been amazed at the strength of the local high school’s math program. She student taught at small schools in Ohio “Their programs weren’t that great,” she said. “By the same token, being a small community they didn’t receive the support they needed to build up these programs. Here they set it up so the students have no chance of failure.”

Smith is happy to see the dedication and involvement in the MVHS student body. “I was surprised at how many students have all honors classes,” she said. “I want them to know that I’m their biggest supporter, their number one fan.

In addition to math, Smith will also be assisting with school’s marching band program. She is a self proclaimed ‘band geek’.

“I have been in marching band since fifth grade,” Smith said. “I played the mellophone and French horn all through high school and college.”