Teacher Nimmer to make APSAC Hadley presentation

Kathy Nimmer stands with her guide dog, Nacho, at the Tippecanoe County Courthouse square, wearing her jacket as a runner in the Indiana bicentennial torch relay. (Photo provided) Download image

Purdue staff members can hear a remarkable story of learning, faltering and learning all over again in the 2017 Richard A. Hadley presentation, coming March 8 and featuring Kathy Nimmer, the 2015 Indiana Teacher of the Year.

Nimmer, who teaches English and creative writing at Harrison High School in Tippecanoe County, will speak on "Overcoming What Seems Impossible: Changing Mindset and Attitude to Restart When Difficulties Arise" at 3:30-5 p.m. that day in Lawson Computer Science Building, Room 1142. Her message arises from her personal experience as a blind person who made a brave but dismal start as a schoolteacher, then examined herself and found a way to make things work.

The Richard A. Hadley APSAC Professional Development Series presents an event each spring through the efforts of the Professional Development subcommittee of APSAC, the Administrative and Professional Staff Advisory Committee. This year's event will be live streamed on the West Lafayette and regional campuses. Registration is required to attend in person. The event is open to all Purdue staff with permission of their supervisor.

Nimmer, who earned a master's degree in English at Purdue in 1992, says, "In that terrible beginning of my career, I didn't realize that things I myself was doing were causing problems. It did take a crisis moment for me to decide either to change or leave the profession."

She knew she had abilities. Through her own dedicated teachers, she had learned self-confidence and many skills, including playing the piano and competing in many sports. But she was in "a loop," a self-defeating pattern of response, and the abilities weren't connecting to her classes -- until she truly accepted herself as a blind teacher and stopped trying to teach as if she weren't.

"It was self-acceptance, yes, but before, I didn't even realize that I didn't have that," she says. Releasing her fear, she made her boldest move, rearranging her classroom so she could move around, getting close to students and enlivening the mutual communication. Suddenly, she was not just a distant figure in the eyes of the students. She was a stimulating, caring person who just happened to have more shin bruises than most folks.

And she liked being that person. Nimmer's career took off from there. Among her numerous area and state awards, she became a Lilly Distinguished Fellow, giving her an opportunity to write a book about assistance dogs. She thrives on being a communicator, including giving motivational talks to a wide range of ages.

"I am blessed to know that my words have helped others, which is so meaningful to me since that is a goal every time I speak," she says. "If there are people with disabilities at my speaking events, I'm often connected with them afterward. One memorable connection was last August in southwest Indiana, where a teacher brought a high school junior who was blind since birth. I was the first successful blind adult she met. We have become pen pals. Her life has changed tangibly.

"I am a storyteller at heart, but I use the stories to facilitate their efforts and help them achieve their goals." Her presentation will involve telling stories and finding truths in them that anyone can carry forward.

About the Richard A. Hadley APSAC Professional Development Series

The Hadley series is named for an alumnus and past Purdue employee who was a founding member of APSAC. Richard Hadley was a senior mechanical engineer at Purdue for almost 25 years before his death in 1993. Hadley presentations are intended to provide career enrichment for staff members. One is arranged for each spring by the Professional Development subcommittee of APSAC. The series is supported by the Richard Hadley Memorial APSAC Fund for Staff Development. Gifts to that fund can be made through the University Development Office with a notation of "Richard Hadley Memorial APSAC Fund for Staff."

Writer: Dan Howell, 765-494-2028, dhowell@purdue.edu