From Teacher to Fixer: Mr. Heyes’ Story
“Before I wrap up this article, I want to take a moment to thank Mr. Heyes for everything he’s done for the new building and for always being there for the school community. It wasn’t easy to get an interview with him because he’s constantly on the move, making sure everything is running smoothly and that the school is in great shape.”
For many students at Comp Sci High, English Language Arts isn’t just a subject—it’s a journey into storytelling, critical thinking, and self-expression. For Mr. Heyes, however, teaching ELA marked the beginning of his own story as an educator. With a background in construction, he transitioned from shaping minds in the classroom to shaping the spaces where those minds learn, taking on the important role of facilities manager. His journey reflects a deep commitment to supporting students in every way possible, both inside and outside the classroom. This is Mr. Heyes’ story.
Part 1: The Story
Mr. Heyes grew up in Liverpool, U.K. He has an older sister and two younger brothers. They all shared strong bonds with each other, but he doesn't get to see them often since they're in the U.K. After moving to the U.S. 11 years ago, his life took a new direction. A passionate lover of music and literature, Mr. Heyes found joy in playing the guitar, a hobby he has enjoyed ever since he was nine years old. Music was a source of comfort, and it allowed him to unwind and process the events that went on in his life. Mr. Heyes loved to read. He admired writers like Jack Kerouac, who made literature feel both musical and creative, James Joyce, whose complex works he found both challenging and beautiful, and John Steinbeck for the realism and writing style in his work. He believes literature expresses deep human emotions and universal truths, beyond the limitations of plot-driven storytelling. Mr. Heyes loves to travel and take road trips with his family to explore different sites and new cultures.
In England, Mr. Heyes was politically active and a member of a communist group called "The Communist League." During his time with The Communist League, the group was closely connected to the Socialist Workers Party in the U.S., which was in the middle of some building renovations. With his background in construction, Mr. Heyes was offered the opportunity to volunteer in NYC to assist with the renovations. It was here that he met his future wife, who, despite having little experience in construction, eagerly helped him with repairs. Their connection grew stronger each day. They weren’t just building a building; they were building the structure of their love. After just eight days of meeting and dating, they decided to get married, marking a significant turning point in Mr. Heyes’ life and setting him on a new path.
Growing up in a tough area, Mr. Heyes entered trade school after high school. He trained to become an electrician and explored different trades in the construction industry. After spending the majority of his life in the U.K., he moved to Texas in 2013 with his wife and attended The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to pursue his passion for literature. Balancing his studies with raising his daughter, Olive, he graduated with honors and earned a bachelor's degree in literature.
Mr. Heyes became an English teacher because of his own struggles with stereotypes and limitations growing up. He didn’t have the WBL or PSL learning opportunities like we do here at CompSci. Growing up, he often felt restricted by the expectations placed on him, with many assuming he should only pursue trade work. College wasn’t something anyone in his area typically pursued. However, coming to America gave him the chance to chase his dreams and earn a degree in literature. His success in college inspired him to help others do the same—pursue their goals and create their own paths for the future.
A significant influence on Mr.Heyes' life is his father, who owns a home improvement company. He learned many of his construction skills from watching his dad at work, from home repairs to creating extensions and more. Even now, when he faces challenges at work, Mr.Heyes calls his dad for advice, learning how to approach different problems when it comes to repairing or maintaining tools at the school.
Part 2: Once a Fixer, Now a Teacher
When I first met Mr. Heyes, it was at the old 1300 site on Boynton Avenue. Back then, he was a co-teacher with Ms. Germain for 9th grade English and Mr. Ryan for 10th grade. Most of the Class of 2025 had him as their ELA teacher. Mr. Heyes was a pretty cool teacher and an even cooler person if you took the time to get to know him.
When my class would always walk into English, he would always start by saying, “Take out your notebook; the Do Now question is up on the board.” My class was always rowdy during English, and whenever it got too loud, we’d occasionally hear him yell in a way we’d never heard before. He’d shout, “PLEASE BE QUIET!” and the class would immediately settle down after that.
Mr. Heyes wasn’t the kind of teacher to send students out of class unless it was absolutely necessary. He preferred to address behavior in the moment and give students a chance to settle down. However, on rare occasions, he did send someone out because he wanted to maintain a productive environment for the class while giving the student a chance to regroup.
Mr. Heyes was the kind of English teacher you could really rely on if you didn’t understand something. He always took the time to break down a question if you didn’t understand it. I remember one time I was struggling with a short response question. I was confused and didn’t understand what the question was asking. Mr. Heyes sat down with me for 10-15 minutes, patiently breaking the question down step by step. He didn’t just help me get the right answer but ensured I understood the skill being tested. This approach is what made him stand out—not just as a teacher, but as someone who truly cared about students' learning.
Whenever a student had a question, Mr.Heyes never hesitated to help. If he noticed someone struggling for a long period of time, he would make sure to put them down for office hours to go over things in more detail. No matter how long it took to answer a question, he would never leave a student to struggle in silence. He wasn’t just there to help with academics—he was also there for students who were having a tough day. If you ever needed someone to talk to, Mr. Heyes was always there.
Part 3: The Fixer in Action
When the new school was being built, Ms.Alder called Mr. Heyes to talk about the role of a facilities manager at the new site. She asked him how he would feel about taking on this job. After thinking about it, Mr. Heyes knew he would enjoy it. He had a lot of construction experience and felt ready for the challenge. The job also gave him more flexibility to spend time with his wife and kids. He’s very happy with his role at the school.
Mr. Heyes is an important part of the school’s daily operations. He helps with everything, from coordinating the pit crew during breakfast and lunch periods to inspecting classrooms and keeping the school safe. As the certified individual responsible for testing and inspecting the fire alarms, Mr. Heyes ensures the building meets safety standards. You can often find him on the roof checking HVAC systems or opening the Wayne Dalton branded garage doors or fixing other things around the school to make sure the building works properly for everyone. Whether it’s a broken locker, a leaking faucet, or setting up for events, Mr. Heyes takes care of it all with dedication
When I interviewed Mr. Heyes, I asked if he had faced any big challenges in his new role since we moved to the new site. He said there wasn’t any specific project that was difficult, but his main challenge is keeping the space clean, usable, and working well. He emphasized that his role is proactive rather than reactive—through proper maintenance and inspection of building systems, he can minimize breakdowns and repairs. Sometimes, working with contractors, engineers, and others can be tough, and if he doesn’t stay on top of things, problems can pile up quickly. His ability to manage many tasks at once is crucial in keeping everything running smoothly and ensuring the building functions properly for everyone.
Part 4: Conclusion
Mr. Heyes wanted to leave us with some key lessons for the future. He encourages us to be open-minded, stay curious, and question everything—whether it’s in life or at school. It’s okay to wonder, to ask questions, and to explore. To students, staff, or anyone unsure about their future career or college major, he advises: take your time. Don’t feel rushed to figure everything out right away. It’s okay not to know exactly what you want to do—don’t stress over it.
For the seniors graduating in 2025, Mr. Heyes is especially proud. He built strong relationships with many of us and has been there since we walked in as freshmen. Seeing us grow over these years has brought him so much joy, and he can’t wait to see us graduate and move on to what’s next.
Before I wrap up this article, I want to take a moment to thank Mr. Heyes for everything he’s done for the new building and for always being there for the school community. It wasn’t easy to get an interview with him because he’s constantly on the move, making sure everything is running smoothly and that the school is in great shape. Despite his busy schedule, he made time to share his thoughts and experiences, and I truly appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Heyes, for all your hard work and dedication—you truly make a difference every day.