Originally a native of the Southside of Chicago, Gail Nicolini received a call from Andrean High School that would change the trajectory of her life forever. While finishing her undergraduate degree at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL., Andrean called her about a job opening they had for a math teacher.
“I was at school senior year, and I told one of my friends that lived in the same hallway as me, ‘This school in Merrillville, they called me, have you ever heard of them?’ It was Andrean,” Nicolini said. “She told me that was her high school, and that she lived near there. I never thought about going to Indiana. But that’s how I got to Indiana and 45 years later I’m still here.”
Nicolini, now a retired teacher, spent 15 years at Andrean High School as well as 19 years at Merrillville High School teaching pre-calculus. Despite being retired, she still tutors math.
“I knew since I was in second grade that I was going to teach math,” Nicolini said. “I always felt sorry for the kids that didn’t get it. I went to a private school, and I remember sitting between two boys who struggled with math. And my job, I realized this years later, was to help these two boys. Since then, I’ve helped countless other people through their careers.”
Nicolini has a passion for helping others. She has helped people with the PSAT, SAT, tests for graduate school, and even helping individuals who face Alzheimer’s. Nicolini’s husband, Christopher, battles Alzheimer’s and is in a memory care unit.
“I’ve just kind of become an advocate for those people that he lives with. I also get at least one call a week from people who need help dealing with these things,” Nicolini said.
Outside of tutoring and supporting individuals in her community, Nicolini also serves as the President of the Merrillville Education Foundation. The Merrillville Education Foundation works to raise funds to provide teachers the opportunity to buy supplies for their classrooms.
“Twice a year in the fall and the spring, teachers have the opportunity to get things for their classroom that aren’t maybe part of the regular curriculum,” Nicolini said.
The Merrillville Education Foundation has been working on several fundraisers lately to generate funds for these teachers. This includes a walkathon, where the students can raise money by getting donations to walk a mile, as well as selling major saver cards through the school. These funds go back to the teachers and their needs with little questioning.
“Mostly I’m here helping my school, but I also help with Andrean and my grandchildren’s schools. My son runs a golf outing every year for one of his good friends that passed away years ago. My son doesn’t live here so I have to help with that,” Nicolini said.
No matter the cause, Nicolini is always willing to help others. Whether it’s tutoring, support or anything in between, she’s there to do what she can.
“I’m not a person that sits still. I’m always doing something,” Nicolini said. “Once you stop it’s over. You have to keep moving.”
Nicolini is grateful for all the opportunities she has had and the people she has influenced.
“You don’t realize how many lives you’ve touched until you’re on Instagram or Facebook, and you have people coming back to you,” Nicolini said. “I have kids that come back to me that say ‘You believed in me.’ Teachers need to believe in their students.”