Kelly Vollmer
Kelly first moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, from which she earned a B.S. in Psychology and English and an M.A. in English. She quickly discovered New Orleans was the place where she had always belonged, and her high school sweetheart, Jeff, soon followed her here. They have now been married for 16 years and have two beautiful girls, Emma Jane (11) and Hannah (6), and 4 year-old pup named Ember. Kelly is a lover of all things nerdy, a proud fangirl, and she is a passionate high school English teacher.
Setting Personal Boundaries
Over the past few years, there has been a huge cultural shift toward accepting and recognizing mental health needs. This shift has been accompanied by a focus on prioritizing self-care and establishing clear boundaries....
What Comes Out in the Wash
On Sunday, I opened my dryer up and started to pull out the warm, freshly cleaned clothes, but as I did so, I noticed specks of color. A closer inspection of one of the...
7 Christmas Traditions I Wish I’d Adopted Before I Had Kids
When I was growing up, Christmas was always a pretty big deal in my house. I always looked forward to the holiday season because it involved gathering with both sides of my large extended...
Let’s Celebrate “Drive Parents Crazy” Week!
A few weeks ago, my school celebrated Homecoming Week. In addition to the actual homecoming game, the week included daily dress-up themes, a door-decorating contest, a pep rally, a community parade, and a Homecoming...
Encourage Excellence, but Don’t Expect It
It’s the end of the first quarter, and per usual, many students are suddenly very worried about their grades. I’ve conferenced with students about why their grades are what they are, and I’ve reminded...
Gumbo and What?
A few weeks ago, Fox 8 posted a question on social media:
“Does potato salad go in the gumbo or on the side?”
Now, I’m not a local, but I first moved to the area nearly...
They Put a Spell on Us
A year or so ago, when I found out that Hocus Pocus 2 was really happening, after years of rumors, I was beyond excited. I had visions of a big watch party with tons...
Who’s in Control Here? Holding Kids Accountable and Letting Them Fail
The start of this school year has been ROUGH. As a teacher, I’ve never felt stretched so thin, and as a mother whose youngest started kindergarten, I’m struggling to balance three school schedules, activities,...
Emotional Validation is as Important a Self-Care
A couple of weeks ago, I snapped at my daughter. I was watching a television show while folding laundry, and I had to pause my show no less than 3 times in a ten-minute...
10 Quick and Easy Meals for Busy School Nights
Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely HATE cooking and meal planning. It is the bane of my existence and the last thing I want to do after a long day at work....
A Perfectly (un)Productive Summer
A few weeks ago, Bored Teachers, shared a post that read:
When I read the post, I immediately shared it, joking that I felt attacked, because I was actually taking a break from purging and...
Yay for the Return of Concerts!
I was supposed to go to the New Kids on the Block concert a few weeks ago, but at the last minute, my friend who was supposed to go with me fell ill. I...
Bathroom Bonkers
When I became pregnant with my first child, I was TERRIFIED it would be a boy. I didn’t want a boy. I didn’t know what to do with boys. I had babysat from the...
6 Must-Have Summer Health and Beauty Products
Living in the South during the summer is not for the faint of heart. While sweet tea and air conditioning can bring much-needed relief, we have to find ways to protect ourselves and our...