Teachers are much more than educators; they are heroes, too.
Each year, the Jefferson Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to maintain the quality of Jeffco Public Schools, honors one elementary, one middle and, this year, two high school teachers from Jeffco schools with My Teacher, My Hero awards.
This year, two Arvada teachers were given the honor: Larry Niemiec, a middle school science teacher at Lincoln Academy Charter School; and Lonnie Newton, a biology, marine biology and oceanography teacher at Arvada West High School.
Niemiec is the first teacher from a charter school to win the award.
Niemiec said he was surprised when he heard he won, but added that he appreciates the acknowledgement of his hard work as well as that of his colleagues.
“From the bigger picture, it’s the hard work of everybody,” Niemiec said. “It’s not just an individual, it has to be everybody pulling in the same direction. When you have a lot of people that shine, and you shine a little bit more, that’s kind of special.”
Niemiec was nominated for the award by Assistant Principal Doreen Jennings.
“We’re certainly very proud of him, and he deserves every bit of it,” she said.
Niemiec teaches sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade science, which includes earth science, physical science and life science.
“He came into science in our middle school, and he has made the science and the science curriculum come alive for our students in a multitude of ways,” Principal Janelle Johnson said. “He goes above and beyond in providing opportunities for students. He does electives outside of his core classes as well.”
Niemiec offers a variety of electives for students, based on their interests, including differential anatomy, solar currents, weather and, their current elective, robotics.
Also, last year, Niemiec arranged for students to attend a one-week marine biology camp.
But in order to make it happen, the students had to raise money.
“There was a year of fundraising that he coordinated and participated in all the events to make that happen,” Jennings said. “So students who may have never gotten the opportunity to do that, he made that possible for them.”
Teaching is a second career for Niemiec, who spent most of his working years as an environmental engineer in charge of clean-up safety at Superfund sites. That career was put on hold when he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and had to learn to walk and talk all over again.
“When I picked myself up out of the dust, these guys called and said, ‘Hey, want to be a science teacher?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, let’s give it a try,’” he said.
He received that call from Lincoln Academy eight years ago and has been there ever since, even though teaching was something he never thought he would be doing.
“That’s nothing that ever crossed my mind. I was a professional dealing with safety in some pretty hazardous, dangerous environments — although middle school has its moments,” he said with a laugh.
“I love it; I love working with the middle school kids. I think this is what I was meant to do,” he said.
Johnson said the Lincoln Academy staff, including Niemiec, is always striving to improve their students’ educational experience.
“We just have a very committed and passionate staff here,” she said. “They’re always striving to reach every student every day and always striving to be better in their profession.”
Niemiec, Newton and the other winners — Jennine Tarpley, of Westgate Elementary in Lakewood, and Travis Macy, an English teacher at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, will be recognized at a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the community stage at Southwest Plaza, 8501 W. Bowles Ave.