Dr. April J. Niemela, Ph.D.

Additional office hours are available by request; please email to schedule a different time. Because I am often out in the public schools mentoring and observing student interns, it may be best to schedule a time to meet with me.

2016 Michigan State University, Ph.D. Educational Psychology & Educational Technology

2008 University of Idaho, M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction

1994 Lewis-Clark State College, B.A. English; Secondary Certification

April J. Niemela believes in the transformative power of education, instructional coaching, and well-crafted learning experiences. With 16 years in the 7-12 classroom teaching English, Reading, Speech, Spanish, Creative Writing, and multiple other courses and 7 years providing professional development, coaching, and support to K-12 educators, Dr. Niemela brings a depth and breadth of experience to LC State's Teacher Education Program.

While her professional focus is always on the learner, she has been recognized by her colleagues and supervisors in a variety of ways. She was the 2012 Teacher of the Year for the Lewiston School District, Co-Director for the State Department's Idaho Coaching Network (2013-2019), and served a term on the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Secondary Steering Committee. She loves the literary word and majored in English at Lewis-Clark State College, where she also earned her teaching credential in secondary education.

April and her husband, Shane, spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors. Whether they are swinging in a hammock or hiking deer trails, picking huckleberries or clearing brush, sitting on the back porch or fishing from the bank -- the mountains beckon and the waters call and the campfire lulls. Life is good.