FISHERS -
As the U.S. women's gymnasts go for gold in London, one team member is getting help keeping up with her studies from an instructor in Fishers.
All of America is still marveling over the accomplishments of the "Fab Five," but Janet Heiking of Fishers is not surprised. After all, she taught one of the gymnasts, Aly Raisman, all she knew about English.
"In the mass sea of kids, you get to know them, but you get to know their persona, but here, you get to know the real kid," Heiking said.
Janet is an instructor for the Florida Virtual School. She says Raisman was very attentive to detail and did not cut corners.
"When it came to the world championships last fall, she said, 'Well, I will still be trying to work, but you may not see as much work from me and I can't take phone calls, because I will be in Japan for a meet...uh, the world championships'," Heiking said.
So as you might expect, the virtual world is just as abuzz as the real world about Aly's success. Especially the Florida Virtual School world, which even put up a real world congratulations on its website.
"A teacher that doesn't have her was messaging me last night and I said, 'Shhhh! Aly is on'," Heiking said.
The day after, it was just as busy.
"Are we getting any work done today?" Janet asks Raisman's history teacher in an online chat. "Or are we just having fun with the Olympics?"
Heiking has taught students in 46 states and 48 different countries from her home office in Fishers.
"I have a student who played in Wimbledon this year. That was exciting and a couple of kids training for the Winter Olympics," she said.
Students, like Aly Raisman, who find the traditional high school schedule too restrictive, make the leap into the virtual world of education.
"She was an outstanding student. Did a great job in the class work. It was neat to see someone as dedicated athletically as they are academically. She didn't cut corners and she didn't find excuses," Heiking said.
She just delivered.
"As a team, they stand and wait for the score. Shows what a great team they are and what a great leader she is," Heiking said.
"I hope I made you proud and I hope to make you proud for the rest of my competition," Raisman said.
Sometimes in life, the pupil can become the teacher, but every time it does happen, you can bet you will find a proud teacher.
Janet Heiking teaches classes online to students across the nation.
Gymnast Aly Raisman is one of Heiking's students.
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