By contributing writer Shayna Nellis (’26)

John Lembeck, Jamesville-DeWitt’s new Earth Science teacher, loves a supportive classroom community. Unlike his brother, who grew up as a kid in school with ADHD, Lembeck always loved school. Obsessed with Earth’s gorgeous hidden features, Lembeck dreamed of being the teacher his brother never had.

However when asked how hard it is to become a teacher, he seemed stumped, saying “it’s a love-hate relationship, it can be exhausting.” Lembeck equated teaching as something like a workout. It takes a certain skill to be able to handle his high energy fun upbeat classroom, he says.

Opening his students eyes to the bright beautiful world called Earth was one of his biggest goals when coming to J-D. He says being new to Syracuse gave him the opportunity to see a great school, just like how his students are given the opportunity to learn everything they can about Earth’s features. He says Syracuse has a very innovative and great community and that J-D granted him a great position. However he knew it wouldn’t all be easy.

New York state is launching a new science curriculum, forcing Lembeck and other new science teachers across the state to figure out how to be one of the first teachers to provide a good way to learn the new skills. Since the entire state is making a transition to new science standards, Earth Science is one of the first. Lembeck said he wanted to “be the best we can at it and be a role model for the other new teachers.”

When asked why he loves being a teacher so much, he said that it was cliche but he truly loves his job. He made a comparison to his friends in business jobs who come home upset after a long day at work, but that is the complete opposite of who Lembeck is.

Welcome to J-D, Mr. Lembeck!