About Me
Hello, my name is Helen Keefe and I am the 9thh, 11th, and 12th grade ELA teacher at Panama Central School. I am also the JCC Public Speaking teacher and the JCC Leadership Engagement teacher. This is my fifth year as a Panama Panther and I am so very excited to be part of the family. The 2021-2022 school year will mark my thirteenth year of teaching.
Teaching is a second career for me; I spent twelve years in the Human Resources industry prior to completing my teaching certification. Students can expect to hear many real-life and real-world stories about the "do's and don'ts" of employment.
I have three children ages 28, 23, and 15. I also have two dogs. Their names are Fonzie & Arya. I just recently lost my older German Shepherd, Reagan, on July 30th, 2020. My other fur-baby, Frisco, died four years ago and I still miss him every day. He was such a gentle soul!
I love to travel! When I was a teacher at Salamanca, I was able to travel with the International Club and visited London, Paris, and Rome in 2014. I have also traveled to Washington, D.C., San Francisco, the Outer Banks, New York City and Toronto, just to name a few. Take a look at my photo gallery to see some famous sites, such as Big Ben, The Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower....I even got to see the Mona Lisa! And, look for me on the steps of The White House!
In my spare time, I enjoy reading, riding my bike, and swimming. I also love to garden and have 26 hummingbird feeders in my garden. Watching the hummingbirds in my garden makes me so happy! If you look in my photo gallery below, you will be able to see some pictures of the hummingbirds in my garden. My favorite place to be is at the BEACH! I love walking along the shore and watching the birds and the other sea animals. I especially love looking for seashells and beach glass.
I am also a big fan of movies and TV shows! I love MARVEL movies like The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. I actually love ALL superhero movies! I also love Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, and The Breakfast Club. Some of my favorite TV shows are The Golden Girls, Game of Thrones, The Goldbergs, American Pickers, and Expedition Unknown. I also love some old classics like The Andy Griffith Show, Columbo, and Matlock. I love all kinds of animals and enjoy spending my time in the stands cheering on my children and my students in all of their activities.
My favorite foods are chocolate, lasagna, pizza, and banana-splits....but overall, I love most food! There are a few things I do not like: I am afraid of clowns, leprechauns, spiders, and heights!
I am excited to start the 2020-2021 school year and hope to learn much about each and every student I teach.
Here are some photos of the various places I have traveled. Please feel free to look through the gallery and ask me any questions you may have. If you click on the pictures, you can view them in larger size plus there will be descriptions of the pictures.
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Frisco
Fonzie
reagan
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