Today we’d like to introduce you to Calvin Nellum.
Hi Calvin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in New Orleans, raised by a single mother who dedicated her career to education in the New Orleans public school system. Watching her serve others gave me an early appreciation for the impact a great teacher can have. When Hurricane Katrina hit, I was just 13 years old. Overnight, everything I knew my neighborhood, my school, my friends was gone. My mom and I evacuated to Virginia, thinking it would be temporary, but it ended up becoming our new home.
After high school, I earned a degree in physics from Norfolk State University. At first, I thought I wanted to become a researcher studying foldable electronics. But somewhere along the way, I realized that what excited me most wasn’t the research itself it was teaching those ideas and helping people understand them.
That realization led me to the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship and Wayne State University, where I earned my master’s degree in education. Detroit quickly became home. I’ve spent my entire teaching career serving students in Detroit charter schools, and today I teach science at Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences. Along the way, I was honored to be named the Michigan Regional Teacher of the Year for Detroit, but what matters most to me is helping students believe they’re capable of more than they imagined.
Outside the classroom, I’m also passionate about music, robotics, and creative projects that connect education, technology, and culture. Whether I’m teaching science or producing music, my goal is the same: to help people discover what’s already inside them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Losing my home to Hurricane Katrina at thirteen changed the way I see life. It taught me that nothing is guaranteed and that everything you take for granted today can be gone tomorrow. That experience gave me empathy and resilience that I carry into my classroom every day.
Professionally, one of my biggest challenges was realizing that the career I had planned for myself wasn’t actually the one I was meant to pursue. I invested years studying physics because I thought I wanted to become a researcher. Admitting that my true passion was teaching required me to start over and trust a different path.
Teaching itself has challenged me in ways I never expected. Working in Detroit taught me that meaningful education begins with relationships. Before students care what you know, they need to know that you care about them. I’ve learned just as much from my students as they’ve learned from me.
Looking back, every challenge has shaped the educator and person I’ve become. Katrina taught me resilience. Physics taught me how to think. Teaching taught me how to serve.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a science educator, robotics mentor, and creative who specializes in making complex ideas accessible and engaging. I love helping students see science not as a collection of facts to memorize, but as a way of understanding the world and solving real problems.
Throughout my career, I’ve focused on inquiry-based learning, engineering design, and creating classrooms where students feel challenged, supported, and inspired to think critically. I’m especially passionate about serving Detroit students because I believe every child deserves access to rigorous, meaningful STEM education.
I’m probably best known for building relationships. Whether it’s in the classroom, coaching robotics, or mentoring students outside of school, I try to create an environment where students feel seen, respected, and capable of achieving more than they thought possible.
What I’m most proud of isn’t receiving awards—it’s seeing former students succeed and knowing I played a small role in their journey. Being named Michigan Regional Teacher of the Year was an incredible honor, but it’s really a reflection of the communities, schools, colleagues, and students who’ve shaped me.
What sets me apart is that I don’t separate education from creativity. I’m just as passionate about music, philosophy, technology, and storytelling as I am about science. I believe the best teachers help students make connections across disciplines, because that’s how real innovation happens.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was naturally curious and always wanted to understand how things worked whether it was people, ideas, sports, music, or technology. I spent a lot of time observing the world around me, asking questions, and trying to connect ideas that didn’t seem related. Looking back, I think that’s what eventually led me to become both an educator and a creative.
I also loved being active. Sports taught me discipline, teamwork, and resilience, while growing up in New Orleans exposed me to a rich blend of cultures, music, and perspectives that shaped how I see the world. At the same time, I was always interested in creating whether through music, storytelling, or finding new ways to solve problems.
As I’ve gotten older, those interests have become more focused. Today I’m passionate about education, robotics, philosophy, and music because they all revolve around the same idea: helping people discover their potential and think differently. I’ve realized that I enjoy bringing people together, asking meaningful questions, and creating experiences that inspire curiosity and growth.
If there’s one thing that’s stayed consistent throughout my life, it’s that I’ve always been driven by the desire to learn and to help others learn. Whether I’m teaching in a classroom, mentoring students, or creating music, I’m motivated by the belief that everyone has gifts within them they just need the opportunity and encouragement to uncover them.
I think this response is strong because it shows a clear thread running through your life. It doesn’t present your interests as unrelated hobbies; instead, it explains how your curiosity, love of learning, and creativity naturally evolved into your work as a teacher, mentor, and artist. That gives the interviewer a coherent picture of who you are rather than just a list of activities.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Brothermankalvin_bmk
- Facebook: Brothermankalvin_bmk
- LinkedIn: Calvin Nellum
- Youtube: Calvin Nellum Podcast
