Music that Describes Mark
Mark Heep was nominated by his colleague, Pamela Bethke.
Mr. Heep is one incredible teacher. After serving our country in the United States Marine Corp, he obtained a teaching certification and joined Stony Point High School. When Stony Point opened 21 years ago, the school inherited many students who were having problems completing their classes and gaining credits for graduation. The school started a credit recovery program that helps students regain credits they lost due to various circumstances. Mr. Heep volunteered for this role. He really wanted to help students gain their high school diploma and be successful in their lives.
However, that is not all Mr. Heep did. He helped every student who came into the credit recovery classroom to believe in themselves. He showed the students how important it is not to give up because they are worth it!
Stony Point is a Title 1 school, with 48% of the student population receiving free and reduced lunch. Most of the upperclassmen have jobs, and some even have children of their own. Mr. Heep works with all students from special education to International Baccalaureate candidates. He's so patient and kind, and he calmly explains what needs to be completed to help each student’s situation. He keeps his classroom open until six at night and every Saturday, which is more dedication then most people can give.
"I have personally watched him work with a student who had no hope at all of graduating. This student did a complete turn around," said Bethke. "Now, they are planning to attend college when they graduate. Thanks to Mr. Heep, hundreds of students over the years have been able to graduate from Stony Point High School. We will truly miss him."
Mr Heep was the best teacher I've ever had. I was in a crisis when I moved to Round Rock and started at Stony Point, but he helped me recover the credits I lost as a homeless minor and shaped me into a much better adult. I graduated a few months early and he cried over how proud he was to see my triumph. I can be poorly behaved at times, yet he always saw through it and pushed me towards success, supporting me through my first 2 jobs and HS Diploma. In his class I made several friends who are still my closest friends to this day and we constantly remind each other of how Mark changed our lives. Reading these comments from his colleagues, such as Hogg and Wedig, are tear jerking and made me remember who I was. Mark is an amazing person and I can't imagine how this part of town will be shaped without him motivating youths like me. The happiest time of my life was the 2 years he chose to make positive for me. I'll never forget that pivotal time.
Mark,
I am so proud of you. Your dedication and enthusiasm for kids is selfless. I am hoping that you enjoy your retirement. It took a bit for me to downwind from the rigors of teaching. I admire you.
Best,
Sandy
Mr. Heep??
Whenever I subbed at Stony Point, my day began by walking around to greet peiple I admired. You were always on my list, and were kind to everyone, including an old substitute. I hope your retirement is pleasant and full of interesting surprises each day!
I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Heep. He was very patient and kind to the students. I too learned so much from Mr. Heep. I wish him a great and well deserved retirement.
I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Heep in Credit Recovery. We shared the same classroom for the past two years. He had away of making all students feel at ease about being in Credit Recovery. He always had a smile on his face. He would make several jokes daily which would ease our classroom. There was not a subject that he could not teach. I cannot count the number of students who would come back and visit Mr. Heep once they graduated. They would come back, full of smiles, just to say thank you. He really believed in all of the students. He was a bright face to see every morning at work. He was extremely knowledgable and he taught me everything. He is one of the smartest people that I know. I felt honored working with him. I really appreciate you Mr. Heep. Thank you for everything!
I was fortunate enough to work with Mr. Heep within the credit recovery team at Stony Point for at least a decade. Whatever positive adjectives you can think of would apply to Mark’s service to his students! His efforts to meet the needs of his students were absolutely amazing. One of the most selfless people I have come to know, Mark’s character traits are well-suited to serve others. His patient and gentle demeanor made an impact on the way I serve students to this day. Thank you for your influence and your service my friend! May your retirement bring joy to you and yours just as your service brought so much joy to countless families in the Round Rock community!
I was fortunate enough to work with Mr. Heep within the credit recovery team at Stony Point for at least a decade. Whatever positive adjectives you can think of would apply to Mark’s service to his students! His efforts to meet the needs of his students were absolutely amazing. One of the most selfless people I have come to know, Mark’s character traits are well-suited to serve others. His patient and gentle demeanor made an impact on the way I serve students to this day. Thank you for your influence and your service my friend! May your retirement bring joy to you and yours just as your service brought so much joy to countless families in the Round Rock community!
Throughout my 14 years at Stony Point High School, Mark Heep has held an essential role in changing the course of a student's life. Mark represents all that we would want in a teacher: patience, encouragement, and above all, the love of guiding his students whose lives were shaped by Mark's motivation for all to succeed. Mark went well beyond all expectations to reach and design a plan for each individual student to fulfill the credits needed for graduation. Thousands of students have graduated and have gone on to rewarding careers because Mark was in their lives. Mark Heep is one of my heroes and I will forever remember him as a treasured colleague and friend. In addition, my husband John worked in the credit recovery room part-time with Mark for five years. John was able to witness firsthand all the determination Mark would instill in each student to complete their work. John saw all the countless evenings, weekends and holidays Mark would offer as additional opportunities for the students to complete their work. Mark Heep will be truly missed!!!
The more you can learn, the more you can earn!
I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Heep for over ten years. Throughout this time, his students would tell me, “he was a great a teacher" at SPHS. This feedback was not solicited, but naturally came out in our meetings. I would ask them what made him so special? The majority of them said, "He listens...he cares...and he never gives up." Due to these traits, he has supported students that would not have graduated because they gave up on themselves, or others gave up on them.
There will be a big hole to fill when he leaves SPHS. I am honored to count him as a valued colleague.
This year was my first experience with Credit Recovery. Mark Heep made the process seamless for me. He was available to teach me the process and answer all my questions. He even helped me communicate with parents. He is clearly best in class in this area.
Mark,
simple words fall short in expressing how much you have meant to SO MANY kids at Stony Point. But your hard work did not stop at helping students, but teachers, admin and the school as a whole.
Your patience and tireless efforts on behalf of our less successful students are indicators of the commitment you brought to the task. I will miss your help and support. Sadly, Stony Point will lose one of our most valuable staff members. I will miss you but I wish you all the best in your retirement. You have earned the rest.
MARK IS THE BEST OF THE BEST TEACHER/ MENTOR/ Colleague- He was ALWAYS 'there' for the kids and his caring heart showed itself
in continual consistent support of students! Thank You Mark! You Are A Wonderufl Example For Us ALL to Follow!!
Where to begin, this man has given so much of himself so that students could graduate and begin their journey into the future. He worked countless hours on weekends and even during the holidays. He always went above and beyond. He will be missed by all and I'm so proud to know him and call him my colleague and more importantly my friend.
If you are genuinely looking for what's in the interest of the students, Mr. Heep has the answer. He has the patience of a saint and a genuine heart full of love for the kids he works with at Stony Point. Mr. Heep would offer the students many options and strategies only to accomplish one goal- completing the course necessary to pass. Mr. Heep not only worked with them on an academic level. He also provided good moral living advice, the kind you'd get from a father figure. His love for his craft kept him from retiring before this year. Mr. Heep has told me the last four years in a row, "I'm going to retire this year," only to see him the following year. We talked every day, and he'd always have a great story to share with me. When we were not speaking about one of our excellent students, we'd chit chat about gardening. He would always tell me to have a great weekend, no matter what day of the week it was. Well, Mr. Heep, you can now enjoy your week as though it's the weekend.
Over the last 6 years, I have come to know Mr. Heep professionally and personally. He exudes a gentle peace, but is the fire behind our credit recovery program which has allowed many of our students to recover credit and graduate with their classmates. The students have great regard for him, and his tireless efforts to help do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
We are all thankful for Mr Heep, and I honestly don't know what we'll do without his guidance and genuine kindness. Stony Point has been fortunate to have him, and he will be missed.
Mr. Heep is powerful because he makes connections with students that lots of other people write off as hopeless. He finds them and encourages them in the way they need in just that moment! He is amazing!
Mark and I have been coworkers at Stony Point for 14 years and I have come to know him through his work with students and his volunteer work in Austin. He has always gone the extra mile when it comes to student success. He would be available during most school holidays and Saturdays for students to finish their credit recovery courses. I have rarely seen such dedication as Mark's. Considering that he deals primarily with high risk students, his work ethic is even more phenomenal. His retirement will leave a void that may never be filled.
I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Mark Heep.
Mr. Heep has been a great asset to the Stony Point High School campus and more importantly to the MANY students at this campus that he has gone above and beyond to help become high school graduates. Not only was a teacher to them, but he was a motivator, mentor, and friend, Mr Heep has never hesitated to put in extra hours - whether it be after school, over weekends, or during summer school - to provide our students access to their work. Mr. Heep will be greatly missed on this campus. Congratulations on your retirement, Mr. Heep, and best wishes for your new chapter of life!
I do not know of a more dedicated person to the students of Stony Point High School than Mark Heep. In every way he goes above and beyond for our students.
As one of the counselors at SPHS I cannot overstate how much we rely upon him to keep our credit recovery students motivated and on track. He not only helps them with the Edgenuity side, but also looks at their grades to calculate out the grade required to pass the class.
He has a kind word for every student that comes into his classroom; never losing hope or dedication to the student...no matter how difficult.
As Pam mentioned in her nomination, Mr Heep works extra hours - after school, weekends and summer school - to provide our CR students access to their online classes. During the COVID shutdown, Mr Heep repeatedly contacted students and families about their credit recovery, encouraging them to just log in.
We are going to miss Mark immensely. And while I am excited for him and his retirement plans, I fear Stony Point will not be the same without him. Good luck Mark!! You will be missed!!