Travis Niemeyer
I was born and raised in Garland, Texas by two wonderful Christian parents who taught me about Christ and modeled how to walk with Him daily. After graduating from Lakeview Centennial High School, I spent a year at junior college before transferring to the University of North Texas. At this time in my life, I quit seeking the Lord and instead did what was wise in my own 19-year-old eyes. For me, that meant trying to find a career with high salary potential, so I majored in marketing. After a series of different sales jobs, I ended up selling school library books which took me into elementary and middle schools day after day. As I walked down the halls surrounded by kids, I was overcome by joy and the odd feeling that I was home. As I prayed, I became convinced that God was calling me to teach, something I had never really considered before. After getting my teaching certificate, I was hired by a friend from church to teach 5th-grade American history and Language Arts at Timberline Elementary. Ironically, my move to teaching and the lower salary required a second job running the weeknight preschool program at Fellowship Church. There, I met a beautiful young teacher, Michelle Baker, who also joined the preschool staff to make some extra money. Not long afterward, she became Mrs. Michelle Niemeyer. The friend who hired me at Timberline Elementary left to become a middle school principal five years later and convinced me to join his staff there. After teaching for ten years, I again felt God's calling, but this time into school administration. I am so excited to join CCA's amazing middle school staff and the CCA family.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? The first baseman for the Yankees
Why do you choose to work at CCA? I love the community of CCA. Michelle and I have been CCA parents for nine years and still have friends that began when Asher was in Pre-K 3. We have grown as parents with these friends and met many others over the years. I have told people before that one of the reasons I'm so excited about coming to CCA is that I can build a much deeper relationship with the kids and their families.
What is one fun fact about you? I am an award-winning gardener. I won two awards for my tomatoes years ago from Calloway's Nursery (the fact that I was the only entry is purely inconsequential).
What is your favorite book of all time? As someone who loves books and reading, this is an impossible question but also one I can't resist. Books are a passion for me. I love reading them, discussing them, and quoting them. So picking one favorite book is like picking your favorite child. In 5th grade, my teacher read Where the Red Fern Grows each day before lunch, and I loved it. However, like many boys, I was too busy and active in middle school to spend much time reading. However, Huck Finn was the book that ignited my love for reading. Wild at Heart was read at a time when I needed to be challenged not to play it safe but to make bold steps of faith. The Book Whisperer and In the Middle transformed how I taught. And The Divine Conspiracy and Celebration of Discipline challenged me to go deeper in my faith.
What is one thing that can instantly make your day better? A great worship song
What do you like to do for fun? Most anything outdoors - disc golf, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting
