Calvin Nellum’s journey from Hurricane Katrina to becoming the best teacher in Detroit

After earning a degree in physics from Norfolk State University in 2014, Calvin Nellum thought he had his career path figured out.

Turns out he didn’t.

“I got my degree in physics and I thought I was going to do research and learn about foldable electronics, but that wasn't my passion,” Calvin said. “My passion was teaching foldable electronics.”

So he changed paths, ended up at Wayne State University earning a master’s degree in education, and less than 10 years later, he was named the best teacher in Detroit by the Michigan Department of Education.

Funny how life turns out that way.

Calvin is in his second year as a science teacher at Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences (DAAS), a charter school on the city’s east side, and earlier this year he was named the Michigan Regional Teacher of the Year by MDE for Region 10, which covers the entire city of Detroit.

It was a well-deserved recognition for an educator who has spent his entire nine-year teaching career working in Detroit charter schools. But his story started long before he got to the Motor City.

Calvin grew up in New Orleans, the son of a single mom who had spent her entire career working in the New Orleans school district. His mom was his role model, and their entire world was turned upside down in late August of 2005.

“I remember like it was yesterday, first week of high school, still just 13 years old. Got my first growth spurt, got my new shoes, all the girls are looking at me,” Calvin said. “Then they say this storm called Katrina is about to come around. I'm in New Orleans – hurricanes don't hit New Orleans.”

Hurricane Katrina did indeed hit New Orleans, devastating an entire city, causing $125 billion in damage and taking almost 1,400 lives. Calvin and his mom survived, but they were right in the middle of it.

“All the trees, like literally my whole entire childhood, was just wiped away,” Calvin said. “All within a week. And then after the three weeks of us evacuating, I was in Virginia. I was supposed to be in Virginia for six months and it turned into my entire life.”

Calvin ended up finishing high school in Northern Virginia before enrolling at Norfolk State University.

Just when he thought he was going to spend a lifetime doing research, he found out about the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship, a program funded by the Kellogg Foundation that helps STEM educators earn a master’s degree in education. That’s what brought Calvin to Wayne State University, and he immediately fell in love with his new city – and its charter schools.

He landed a job at Detroit Community Schools and then took a science-teacher position at Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a charter school on the city’s northwest side. That’s where he truly began to blossom.

“Jalen Rose Leadership Academy allowed me to be just the best, most well-researched, progressive-minded, equity-based teacher,” he said. “And it took seven years, but I am the teacher I am because of Jalen Rose. And DAAS has just really just been an alley-oop for me to just continue my passion of teaching Detroit, teaching effective science, and just being of service to the community here.”

Calvin moved to DAAS in 2023, and in his first year at the school, he was honored by the state as its Regional Teacher of the Year for Detroit.

“I just feel like I go to where I am needed,” he said. “For me, I love kids, I love organizing, I love my people. And I feel like if I can be in front of 30 Black kids every hour and get to teach them positivity, science and love. I feel like I'm really doing a service to my people. And it doesn't have to just be Black kids. It could just be any kids that want to learn science or any kid that’s curious about learning.”

Calvin came to the State Capitol in May for Charter Day at the Capitol, where he was honored with a tribute by Speaker Joe Tate and delivered an inspirational address from the Capitol Steps.

And as he moves into his second decade as an educator, he continues to look back on the lessons he learned as a young man.

“Katrina taught me that you have to live every moment like it is your last because it can be taken,” he said. “Because I went through that trauma when I was just 13 years old, I can relate to a lot of what my students are going through.”

He’s also quick to say that while he hasn’t become a Pistons fan yet, he’s grown to love his adopted hometown.

“I tell people, I'm not from Detroit, I'm still working on my Detroit residential pass, but I think they've accepted me,” he said with a laugh.