The Tabernacle Sun
Renee Heiss recently received a Children’s Literary Classic Seal of Approval and has at least two additional books scheduled for release this year. Not bad for someone who “retired” in 2009.
“This is fun,” Heiss said. “Sure, I’m busy, but I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.”
A Tabernacle resident for 30 years, Heiss has found herself busier than ever at a time in life when most people are slowing down. For Heiss, her hope is that this current project will keep her busy for years to come.
Heiss was a teacher in the Northern Burlington County Regional School District for 20 years before retiring in 2009, starting as a home economics teacher. “Stirring and sewing is how it began,” she laughs. From there, Heiss taught children from 3 to 20 years old across family consumer sciences, child development and language arts.
Throughout her career as a teacher, Heiss wrote countless articles and stories for publications that span “Crinkles Magazine” to “Education Digest.”
“Teaching and writing have never just been a job for me,” she says.
Despite retiring four years ago, Heiss continues to teach. She has been an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature since 2005, reading and editing manuscripts.
She has written seven books for audiences ranging from children to adults to teaching professionals. The book “Woody’s World,” published in 2011, was recognized with the Children’s Literary Classic Seal of Approval. CLC is an organization furthering excellence in children’s literature as well as promoting children’s classics that educate and encourage strong, positive values. The story is especially important to Heiss as it takes place in Princeton, where she grew up, and is based on events of her father’s life.
“Very much of what happened in ‘Woody’s World’ actually happened,” Heiss said. “It’s the story of a boy whose family struggled through the Great Depression. The CLC found the book to be very topical. A lot of it relates to the problems families are dealing with today.”
Never the person to have nothing going on, Heiss sat on the board of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in February 2012. It was there she met Gary A. Stewart who was lamenting the lack of wholesome and educational reading options for his children. From that conversation and ones that followed, the two quickly hit it off and partnered to form Entelechy Education. The name comes from entelechy’s definition, meaning the realization of one’s potential. Through their new venture, both Heiss and Stewart hope to help kids realize theirs.
Entelechy Education focuses on STEM and character education themes. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “Where’s Green?” the debut entry in their first series, “The EnteleTrons,” was released earlier this year to positive critical response. Heiss does all the writing for “The Enteletrons” with two more titles “Oxygen Finds Friends,” and “What’s the Matter?” due out this summer and fall, respectively.
Entelechy is a small team currently made up of Heiss, Stewart and illustrator Christine O’Brien. The group has a good dynamic, according to Heiss, as they are all having fun. She admits this started as a passion project but does believe the company has a lot to offer and great opportunity for growth.
“We spent the last year discussing the frame of what we wanted to do and the sky really is the limit we hope. We are already developing a game and other merchandise,” Heiss says with a smile. “Who knows, maybe there will be t-shirts someday.”
Books for sale, as well as more information, are available at www.entelechyed.com.
