In session: Klopfer juggles hoops, teaching
By Margaret McKenzie
Old Gold and Black Reporter

A feisty 5-foot-4 point guard from Albany, N.Y., senior Val Klopfer is an offensive spark off the bench for the Deacons.

A seasoned point guard, she has incredible vision on the floor and frequently sacrifices her body in the defensive effort. Yet this senior is more than one of the university’s all-time leading free throw shooters. Klopfer is a dedicated student, garnering a position on the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 1999.

Dividing her time between the enormous time commitment of basketball and classes, Klopfer has somehow managed to spend the semester student teaching.

Shaping the lives of a group of fourth graders at Vienna Elementary School, Klopfer’s day starts early. Klopfer arrives to teach by 8 a.m. every morning. Surrounded by 10-year-olds all day, she teaches until 3:30 p.m.

After leaving the school, she returns to the new Miller Center for basketball practice.
The busy schedule is further complicated on Mondays when a night class is thrown into the mix.

The schedule can be stressful. “I wasn’t prepared for as overwhelming as it was going to be,” Klopfer said. “I think I’m getting used to it now that the semester is almost over.
But it took a lot just getting into that routine of being busy all the time.”

The busy and overwhelming schedule has proven to be well worth the work. Initially uncertain of her major, Klopfer did not make the decision to teach until her sophomore year. “In looking over my choices and deciding on a major I knew I wanted to teach.”
Klopfer said. “And after getting out and working with the kids I knew this was it.”

Student teaching has not only given Klopfer an incredible opportunity, it has brought some new fans to the Deacons’ home basketball games.

“The first game of the season, I got the whole class tickets,” Klopfer said.

“So my whole class came for the opening game and my cooperating teacher is going to be the guest coach on (Dec. 7).”

The students are always excited to see their teacher controlling the tempo of the fast-paced offense and gathering her teammates on the court.

Klopfer’s role as a floor general for the Demon Deacons may seem a bit odd for her fourth-grade students accustomed to the docile teacher, but they always enjoy cheering for their star teacher.

Graduation will not mark the end of basketball in Klopfer’s life.

“I would love to stay involved in basketball, coaching on some level,” Klopfer said. “I would love to be a head high school coach somewhere and teach elementary.”

If nothing else her experience juggling academics, basketball, and student teaching have assured Klopfer that teaching was the right choice and will be in her future.

“I know that teaching is definitely the way I want to go first.”