Jeff Manes: Gary woman inspired to teach

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Jonnica Bianchi, 31, of Gary, Ind., teaches character theater and career development at Charter School of the Dunes in Gary. “We’re small enough, at 400 students, where each teacher is going to hold you accountable,” she said. | Photo provided

Updated: February 14, 2012 9:12AM

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

— Author unknown

Jonnica Bianchi lives in the Tarrytown neighborhood of Gary. She is single and the daughter of John and Shirley Bianchi.

Bianchi, 31, graduated from Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, earned a bachelor’s degree at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond and has one class left to earn a master’s degree from National-Louis University in Chicago.

Bianchi teaches at Charter School of the Dunes, is a licensed Zumba instructor and has written a children’s book.

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Did you make good grades in high school?

“Yes, I’ve always been a scholar,” she said.

Favorite subjects?

“I really like literature. I love reading and writing, but it’s more of a hobby. I was in theater in high school.”

A few of the plays you were in?

“ ‘The Wiz’ and ‘The Miracle Worker’ — I was Annie Sullivan.”

Good role.

“My all-time favorite play in high school was ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ We extended that play another three weekends so more people could come see it.”

Who directed the play?

“Elizabeth Conley; she was phenomenal. She would have these outbursts.”

Such as?

“With a scarf around her neck, she’d scream, ‘Diction!’ from the back of the theater. She’d wear all these weird things. I found myself becoming her. She was a great inspiration to me. Her nickname was Freddie. I teach character theater here now.”

You’re left-handed.

“How did you know?”

Years of interviewing people. When did you decide to become a teacher?

“Growing up, I debated between being a dentist or a teacher. Every day, when my dad came home from work, I’d always be excited; I always was interested in what he did. He’d come home clean, yet he said worked in a dirty steel mill.”

It was a federal law that coke-plant employees had to take showers, not that most of them wouldn’t have taken showers, anyway.

“I’d always ask him how his day at work went. One time, I remember him saying: ‘I’m going to be honest with you; I hate my job. If you want to know what hell is like, you can come with me to work.’ ”

I remember you at Take Your Daughter to Work Day. My twin daughters were there, too.

“After that tour, I understood. Talk about Dante’s Inferno. It was very hellish. Dad told me no matter what you do for a living, when you grow up, you have to do something you’re proud of and makes you happy.”

Jonnica, do you know how proud it makes guys like your dad and me to see our daughters go to college?

“About my sophomore or junior year, I came to the realization that the people in my life who really made a difference — other than my family — were my teachers. Once I entered college, I never changed my major.”

How long have you been at Charter School of the Dunes?

“This is my third year.”

Have you taught anywhere else?

“Yes, I taught at St. Stanislaus School in East Chicago my first year, and I taught 41/2 years in the Chicago Public Schools. I taught at Jose de Diego in (the) Humboldt Park (neighborhood). It was a writing and literature magnet school. They take your district, then they take your top 25 percent and put those kids in the school.”

You mean like gifted kids?

“Let’s just say the top 25 percent; they weren’t gifted. I had fifth-graders who read at a first-grade level. That’s the frightening part about it; they were part of the top 25 percent in Chicago’s public schools. My class had an 80 percent retention level.”

You’re saying that 80 percent of your students had been held back at least once?

“Yes.”

Did you live in Chicago when you taught there?

“Yes, real close to Roberto Clemente High School.”

I think it’s admirable that you’ve taught at urban schools.

“I did my internship at an elementary school in Gary that’s closed now. It was infested with roaches. It was an environment in which children couldn’t possibly learn. Before that, I did a year of AmeriCorps, which is a division of the Peace Corps.”

Teaching at Charter School of the Dunes?

“The first year I was here, another teacher and I split our fifth-grade class. I taught science and math and was so happy I almost cried. My father taught me to fight that urge of falling into the stereotype of being a woman. I really tried to pursue things that women may not do.”

You’re his baby girl.

“Yes, I’m the youngest and his namesake. Dad was my football, basketball and volleyball coach while growing up.”

There was football for girls?

“No, when I was in fourth grade, I was the only girl. I also played powder-puff football for four years in high school.”

What position?

“Center and tight end.”

This is the old armory; Charter School of the Dunes could be moving to a new location?

“Yes, we’re real excited about that.

What classes do you teach?

“Character theater to students from kindergarten through eighth grade, and I teach career development to the ninth-grade class. I wrote my own curriculum for the character-theater classes.”

Very good. Anything else?

“We’re an environmental science charter school. We take hikes with the students and we do beach cleanup.”

For various reasons, I hear or read more rumblings regarding parochial vs. public vs. home vs. charter schooling. Your thoughts?

“I’ve seen private schools that were disastrous and I’ve seen public schools that were phenomenal. I do believe what makes the difference in this school is that there is a level of care. We’re small enough, at 400 students, where each teacher is going to hold you accountable. They’re going to know your name when you enter the classroom.”

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Bianchi told me she weighed 400 pounds four years ago and has lost 200 pounds without pills or surgery. She has a photo of herself hanging in her classroom of when she was overweight.

Jonnica said she wants to be a living example for her students as far as keeping their eyes on the prize and reaching their goals. Every morning, she prays at her bedside that God will allow her to inspire her students.

Like her parents, Jonnica Bianchi has a lot of heart.