WGI feature on Heather Shrump
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION WITH
HEATHER SHRUMP
By Trudy Horsting
Heather's
Beginnings in the Arts
Heather Shrump started dance lessons when she was just
three years old. In the 4th grade, she began
learning how to play the flute. "Ever since I was little, art and dance have
been a passion. I love drawing, scrapbooking, or just playing music and dancing."
The arts have truly made Heather who she is today.
In junior high, she auditioned for a pom-pom squad, which
performed at sports games and pep rallies. She says, "I just loved music and
dance. I was already in the band, but the thought of performing in front of
people was of great interest to me." Soon after making the team, the school
decided to turn the pom-pom squad into a color guard. Heather says, "I decided
I was going to give it a try, and I immediately loved it. Thus began my love
for the marching arts."
Immediately after graduating high school in 1986, Heather
began her career as a color guard instructor. She says, "My high school
instructor asked me to come back and help teach after I graduated. I
immediately agreed and have been instructing ever since."
Heather has spent most of her color guard career as an
instructor at Norwin High School, where she has been for 27 years. She says, "I
came to Norwin in 1996 after meeting my husband, who was a marching instructor
for the marching band." She has been the Director of the Norwin High School
color guard for about nine years.
Heather explains how her upbringing shaped her marching
arts journey and who she is as an instructor today. "Through school, my parents
always made grades a priority. I learned quickly that details are important,
and that time management is the key to it all. I think those are things I still
carry with me today." Heather's mind is always mulling over creative possibilities
present in the details she witnesses every day. She says, "I could be watching
a movie and hearing a song, and I immediately ask myself if I could use that
song in the winter. Or I watch a TV show and figure out how I can incorporate
it into a show. I"m pretty sure the first thought that comes to mind anytime I
see something artsy is how can I use that in winter guard."
Rewarding
Moments at Norwin
Heather speaks to many rewarding moments throughout her
marching arts career. However, one that stands out in particular was the year
that Norwin moved to World Class. "I had been with Norwin through many years in
A and Open class, but I never imagined that we would be a World Class color
guard competing with the best high school color guards in the country," Heather
says.
"It is still so surreal that we are here."
Norwin became the first World program in Western
Pennsylvania. Heather explains, "Norwin is from an area where the marching arts
are not as prominent as they are in Ohio, Florida, Texas, and California.
Becoming the first World program here is something that I will always be proud
of." However, it wasn"t simply about making it to World class. Heather
describes, "It was so rewarding becoming a world-class program, but it has been
just as rewarding sustaining it for the last 14 years."
Nevertheless, Heather says that what is the most rewarding
of all is watching her students excel every day. "Watching them push themselves
and grow every single day is inspiring and incredibly fulfilling. That moment
they achieve something they have been working on so hard and watching their
face just light up is everything I need and, honestly, the reason I love what I
do." Heather continues, "Watching them achieve a level they never thought
possible never gets old."
Heather recognizes that, as a director, she has the
potential to influence the lives of the younger generation every day. She says,
"Being a director and having the opportunity to influence young adults is such
an honor. Whether you are a male or female educator, just giving your time to
these young, impressionable performers is life-changing."
Honoring
Women&pos;s History Month
Reminiscing on the headway women have made throughout
history, Heather is proud of the progress and contributions of women both in
this activity and in more general terms. "When you look through history, it
continues to amaze me the strides women have made. From women not being
permitted to vote to a woman running for president, it is incredible what women
have done both in the marching arts and the business/political world. Knowing
that women are continuing to break barriers every single day makes me proud."
Heather continues, "I have never been one to stereotype, so
I don"t really look at things from a gendered perspective. I like to look at
what each person brings to the table. However, given where this world was over
150 years ago, it"s hard not to stand tall and be proud to be a woman."
Today, Heather loves having the opportunity to inspire the
next generation of both men and women alike. "Color guard is about so much more
than flags on a floor," She says, "I always tell my students that yes, I want
your flags to go around together, and yes, I want you to catch your weapons,
but what I care about more is that you leave this program more confident and
stronger than you came in. That, to me, is the most powerful gift you can give
your students."
Learning
From/As Instructors
Heather encourages other instructors to always strive to
continue to improve for their students. It is critical never to become
complacent in one"s teaching. She says, "Never stop learning and paying
attention. I have been teaching for over 36 years, and I continue to learn
every single day. I learn not only from the people that I am blessed to work
with at Norwin, but also from the students themselves. I have been fortunate to
have been around some of the greatest minds in this activity, and I have
learned from every one of them."
Like each of us, Heather was inspired by her own
instructors over the years. Heather speaks of three individuals in particular
who influenced her journey as an educator. First, she speaks of Michael Gaines,
who was the designer at Norwin when the team first entered World Class. Heather
says, "To watch him work was so powerful. His calm demeanor and approach to
design are amazing. He could move people around a gym so easily, and just when
you began to ask yourself what was happening, he would run a chunk, and it
would be magical. I was so honored to be able to watch him work." Heather
continues, "He is also one of the humblest people I have ever met. He is truly
one of a kind."
Secondly, Heather speaks of Brady Sanders. She says, "Brady
was on staff at Norwin for many years. The way he taught the students was
incredible. His patience and his approach to teaching were inspiring. He had a
way of getting through to every student he taught. He seemed to always know
what each student needed to hear, and he never hesitated to give them as much
information as possible. He is one of the best educators I have ever been
around." Heather emphasizes, "He made me want to be a better educator."
Thirdly, Heather is continuously inspired by Joe Heininger.
She says, "Joe has been Norwin"s designer for the last seven years. Joe is
easily one of the most creative minds in the activity. He not only stages the
shows, but he also choreographs and creates most of the moments. It"s rare in
this activity to have someone do both." Heather continues, "The way he looks at
things is very different from the other designers I"ve seen, and that is so
refreshing. He is a brilliant mind, and I am honored to have him at Norwin."
Heather encourages all instructors to remember the most
important parts of the activity every day as they enter their rehearsals.
First, she reiterates how critical it is to have an open mind and continue to learn
from all those you interact with. Additionally, she says, "Always remember that
you don"t need medals and trophies to be successful or make a difference.
Anytime you make a difference in a student"s life, you have succeeded."
For Heather, the most important aspect of her job is
improving the lives of the students she interacts with each day. Heather says, "I
do not consider myself one of the most influential people or women in this
activity, but I do hope I am one of the most influential people in my students"
lives."
About the Author:
Trudy Horsting is a graduate student at Arizona State University pursuing her Ph.D. in Political Science. She holds a MA in Political Science from ASU as well as a BA in Political Science and a BA in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication from James Madison University. While at JMU, she was a four year member and two year captain of the Marching Royal Dukes Color guard and JMU Nuance Winter guard. She was a member of First Flight World Winter guard in 2019 and FeniX Independent World Winter guard in 2020.