Rigors of home schooling make anchor job seem like child’s play

After Teresa Snow teaches her four children — two sets of twins — their home school lessons in the morning, she’s ready for a break. For her, that’s driving from Columbia to Jefferson City and working from 3:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. at KRCG-TV as an anchor.

“Work is the easiest part of the day,” Snow said. “I’ve been in television 18 years. This is like old hat.”

Although broadcasting is routine compared with dealing with wily children, Snow has recently shaken things up. After more than 16 years at ABC-affiliate KMIZ-TV, she accepted an anchor position with rival CBS-affiliate KRCG-TV in early September. Snow anchors the 5 p.m. broadcast and shares the desk with Kermit Miller for the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. broadcasts.

News director Eric Maze said KRCG was impressed with Snow’s extensive experience, which includes working as a reporter, anchor and news director.

Equally important is her connection to the community.
“She can give insight and perspective on any local story,” Maze said.

“We’re blessed to have two anchors, Teresa and Kermit, who really have an understanding of our market.”

Snow replaced Paula Morehouse, who left for a station in Springfield. Maze said he has received “probably hundreds” of e-mails from viewers saying they were sorry to see Morehouse go, but they love Snow.

“Probably the comment I got the most is that [Snow] is very professional, trustworthy,” Maze said. “They appreciate that we hired someone they already trust.”

Snow developed viewership at KMIZ, where she had found a niche in medical reporting and won awards from the American Heart Association, Missouri Broadcasters Association and the National Safety Council. Before joining KMIZ in 1990, she worked as a reporter in St. Joseph. She holds a degree in broadcast journalism from Florida State University.

Her new position will allow her the opportunity to do in-depth medical special reports as well to as be around “new equipment, a new place, new people to work with.”

“The change has given me a new excitement about a job I always liked,” Snow said. “I always tell people I wouldn’t have stayed [in broadcast] if I didn’t like it. There’s too much about the job that you could say is bad, like the hours.”

It’s the work hours that made Snow decide to home school her children, Kyle, Travis, Tony and Ashley. Over the summer, the children went to summer school for four weeks. By the time they came home each day, Snow had already gone to work.

“You end up not seeing your children five days a week,” Snow said. “In our family, that’s not acceptable. So you either have to change your job or commit to home schooling.”

That commitment is made easier with the help of Snow’s husband, Ben Voeller, who works on the family’s hay and cattle farm in the day and cares for the children at night. Still, the rigors of teaching and childcare make Snow grateful to slide in front of the camera each night.

“Once I get to work, everything’s fine,” Snow said. “It’s the getting dressed and getting there that’s tough.”