Knightly News

Rio, Kali, Stella, Dolly, Pax, Stark and King. Roll call at Middle School math teacher Nancy Callaway’s home is lengthy. Callaway and her husband Brian are parents to seven greyhounds! The duo began their greyhound adventures with two dogs and a love for animals. That passion has grown, and the two have fostered more than 30 dogs in the past 18 years. Callaway’s love for animals is only part of what makes her such an inspiration for others.

“They all have stories for why they’re at my house.”

When speaking with Callaway, stories of four-legged adventures abound. Her large pack of greyhounds is part of her family, and like any caring mother, she relates tales of life together. With pride, she shares who is shy, who has a special nickname and who sometimes needs a little extra attention. In the case of many members of the pack, there was an initial unexplainable connection or bond to Callaway and Brian. The two humans simply understand the dogs’ quirks and instinctively know what to do to help them feel safe and at home.

Greyhounds are large. The dogs typically weigh between 55 and 90 pounds and stand roughly three feet tall.  Callaway’s passion for the animals is equally as large. For 15 years now, she has served as the Vice President of the Louisiana & Mississippi Chapter of Greyhound Pets of America. In this role, she helps retired racing dogs find forever homes. The process is extensive and involves home visits with families and establishing foster homes for the animals before they are adopted. On any given weekend, you may find Callaway and her fellow volunteers driving a 16-passenger van transporting greyhounds in need of a home. Thanks to the team’s efforts, thousands of dogs have found homes across the region. For Callaway, the work is extremely rewarding. 

The Callaways have also found another rewarding way to serve. The couple owns two fire trucks, each retrofitted so that they can prepare and serve BBQ, crawfish, jambalaya and smoked meats. These Cajun kitchens-on-wheels travel to festivals and fundraisers supporting local volunteer fire departments and the National Fallen Firefighters’ Foundation. The Callaways have gone as far as Paducah, Kentucky to feed hungry supporters. In true Louisiana fashion, they are expressing their love and support through a shared meal and a celebration of community. 

“I like to see sixth graders grow up. I love to see that growth.”

Callaway grew up in Metairie and attended St. Martin’s Episcopal School. She eventually moved to Baton Rouge as an LSU journalism major; however, there was a draw to another profession. “I always wanted to be a teacher,” she says. “I always worked with kids.” That work included summer camp and after-school roles. “I thought I would teach little ones,” she says, remembering her time teaching first graders as a student teacher. Those plans changed when she learned more about teaching math and the why behind the process. She entered a middle school classroom, earned national certification and has loved every minute of it. She enjoys witnessing the transformation that takes place in sixth grade. “They figure out who they are and find out where they fit in,” she says.

Like many Episcopal Middle School teachers, Callaway is most comfortable in the Middle School setting. Observe her teaching a math lesson in the QUEST Center in Foster Hall or conducting a math relay review in the rain garden and it’s clear that she loves what she does. She finds creative ways to make learning fun and engaging for students who are in a time of life that most adults remember as challenging.  As for Callaway, she says her own middle school experience was good, and she appreciates the opportunity to help Episcopal students have a similar experience and the new initiatives designed to support students in their educational journey.

Callaway has been an Episcopal teacher for 19 years, but her affiliation with the school goes back 26 years. As a former high school volleyball player, Callaway joined the Knights as a Middle School volleyball coach before she ever entered the classroom. Over the years, she has also coached Lower School intramural basketball and powerlifting. 

Sixth graders are fortunate to learn from someone with Callaway’s creativity, compassion and zest for life. She makes a traditional math lesson interactive and fun. We’re glad she shares her time and talents with Episcopal students.

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