After the Bell with CCHS Staffulty Member Heather Vascik ‘02
Have you ever wondered what teachers and staff do when they are not at school? We decided to find out!
This is one in a series of stories about some of Central Catholic’s faculty and staff members and what they like to do after the bell rings at the end of the day. Some have surprising hobbies; others have creative talents. With this series, we hope to shine a spotlight on the special people who work with our students every day!
Acting Up
Heather Vascik, Class of 2002, is a freshman English teacher at CCHS. She joined the staff this year after working as a music and drama teacher at Maritime Academy for the past three years. Before that, she taught music, drama, and technology for eight years at Discovery Academy. Outside of her teaching job, Heather has found a love for acting in community theatre, participating in at least one or two musicals per year.
Heather became interested in theatre while taking a theatre arts class taught by Michael Heinze (Class of 1990) at Central Catholic. She auditioned for the school play The Crucible but didn’t make the cast. “I still helped with makeup, but I got discouraged about auditioning for anything again until I was in my first year at the University of Toledo,” she recalled. “That’s where I got my start, and I continue to be involved in musicals and plays to this day.”
Her list of roles is quite extensive, and includes the following:
A Christmas Carol
Bare: A Pop Opera - Sister Chantelle
Black Voices
Broadway at the Rep
Death of a Salesman - Jenny
Fortinbras, Hair, Aida, Les Miserables - multiple roles
Nunsense - Sister Mary Hubert
Once on This Island - Erzulie
Rocky Horror Picture Show (7 times) - various parts but her most memorable were Trixie (Usherette) and Magenta
Spring Awakening (2017 and 2025) - swing role (had to learn a leading role in three hours once, playing Martha)
In October 2025, Heather was in Rocky Horror Picture Show again, and it was the first time she and her son (Michael, age 15) auditioned and were cast in a show together. “It was an incredible experience to share the stage with him,” she said.
Heather has done several shows through Stone Productions, which operates out of the Collingwood Arts Center. “I found out about Stone in their infancy as a theatre company,” she explained. “They were doing my favorite show, Rent, at a small bar, and I never miss a showing of Rent if I can make it. The amount of talent I witnessed with probably a small budget and limited resources blew me away, and I inquired about the next auditions they would have.”
She plans to audition for Jagged Little Pill and Evil Dead for Stone Productions this year, and she is also on the board of directors. Anyone can try out for shows through Stone Productions, and anyone is invited to see them. Parental discretion is advised for some of the shows due to the mature content.
When she was a student at Central Catholic, Heather was on the varsity track & field team and in the Marching, Concert, Pep, Jazz, and Performing Bands all four years. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, Spiritual Commission, and Gospel Choir. It was at Central Catholic that she learned to read music and play saxophone, and she went to New York City with the Marching Band.
“I had no prior music training, education, or experience before coming to Central Catholic,” Heather said. “I didn’t have a music program available to me at my elementary or middle school, so I started on my music path the summer before my freshman year. My mom convinced me to try Beginning Band but accidentally sent me to Marching Band camp, so I ended up being in both Marching Band and Beginning Band during my freshman year.”
Heather still plays saxophone, and she and her husband both play for family functions. She has been thinking about venturing out more with her playing. “Music and performing (especially in musicals) are my absolute favorite things to do and are a big part of my life,” she said. “I enjoy the community of other artists and being around people with similar interests as myself. I enjoy the connection with my castmates, crew and management, as well as with the audience. Performing allows me to express myself in a safe space, brings people together to explore human emotions and experiences, teaches us to think critically, builds teamwork, and is highly collaborative.”
Although she sometimes finds it challenging to balance her theater tryouts, practices, and board membership with her family and teaching responsibilities, she can’t picture not performing. “Theatre is my therapy, and the stage is my second home,” she said. “I would also like to say to anyone with an interest in music, theatre, or anything for that matter, that you should never give up. Even if you make mistakes, fumble an audition or tryout, just keep going. You will have your opportunity, especially if you strive to be resilient, accept constructive criticism, work hard, train, and keep trying.”
If she hadn’t followed that advice herself after she tried out for her first play, she wouldn’t be where she is today.
Previous Editions of “After the Bell”
Tye Turner (September)
Elaine Gabalac (October)
Randall Pryor (November)
Tom Trease (December)
DJ White (January)
Christine Helminiak (February)
