A Little About Me

My name is Nicholas Kleve, though many people know me as Mr. Funky Teacher. I’m married to an incredible wife and we’re raising three remarkable children who bring energy, laughter, and meaning to everything I do.

Before anything else, I am someone who comes alive outdoors. Stand-up paddling is my heartbeat — especially on rivers, where the water teaches you to read currents, trust your balance, and stay playful even when the flow changes. River surfing has become a new passion, blending challenge, creativity, and pure joy. Traveling is another source of inspiration for me; it’s where new perspectives form and unforgettable memories grow. I also love car camping and the simplicity of being on the road: a packed vehicle, a map, and the freedom to explore.

I’ve been a teacher for over 20 years, and I still feel grateful every day that my life’s work is helping young people believe in themselves. When I’m not teaching or on the water, you’ll often find me hiking, backpacking, fishing, biking, swimming, running, or trying anything that gets me outside. I enjoy dancing, movies, and spending time with my family — the people who keep me grounded and grateful.

My Thoughts on Teaching

There’s a Japanese proverb that says, “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” That truth sits at the center of my work.

I’ve never forgotten why I chose this profession: young people deserve educators who show up with passion, purpose, and a deep belief in their potential. My students depend on me to give them an experience that is meaningful, rigorous, joyful, and rooted in belonging. They are the future leaders of our community, our state, our nation, and our world. Because of that, “good enough” is never enough.

Every day, I step into my classroom believing that teaching is both a privilege and a responsibility. My goal is to create a learning environment where students feel seen, valued, challenged, and inspired. That is what drives me — and what continues to shape my identity as an educator after two decades in the classroom.

My Approach to Teaching

Teaching, for me, is both art and service. It’s structure and creativity, laughter and rigor, relationship and purpose. Here’s what guides my practice:

• I honor and embrace differences of culture, identity, ability, language, and belief.

• I teach students to take pride in who they are and to celebrate what others bring to the world.

• I lead with positivity, flexibility, creativity, and innovation to reach every learner.

• I set high expectations and help students grow into them with confidence.

• I teach with energy, passion, and genuine excitement — because joy is a powerful academic tool.

• I strive to inspire curiosity and help students see learning as an adventure, not a chore.

• I support students academically, socially, emotionally, and mentally.

• I cultivate a classroom where every student feels safe, welcomed, and valued.

• I promote a strong sense of classroom “family,” where belonging fuels achievement.

• I bring playfulness into learning — using humor, movement, songs, chants, dance, and hands-on experiences to make lessons unforgettable.

• I teach kindness, respect, and the simple power of manners: please, thank you, sir, ma’am.

• I do not tolerate bullying, harassment, or behavior that harms others.

• I build positive, caring relationships with every student.

• I stay sharp through ongoing learning, research, and professional development.

• I collaborate with colleagues and parents because education is a team effort.

• I communicate clearly and often with families through calls, emails, messages, and conversations.

• I assess learning daily through meaningful, varied methods — writing, discussion, observation, reflection, performance tasks, and student-created work.

• I encourage critical thinking and higher-level problem solving to help students grow intellectually.

• I keep learning student-centered, hands-on, and relevant.

• I work to help every child become a happy, healthy, compassionate human being who wants to make the world better.

Teaching, at its best, is a relationship — one built on trust, purpose, and the belief that every student has greatness inside them.

Wonderful Quotes That Inspire Me

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” – Dr. Seuss

“You’ve got to continue to grow or you’re just like last night’s cornbread—stale and dry.” – Loretta Lynn

“If a seed of lettuce will not grow, we do not blame the lettuce… the fault lies with us for not having nourished the seed properly.” – Buddhist proverb

“I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve

“The greatest sign of success for a teacher… is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.’” – Maria Montessori

“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats

“Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theatre.” – Gail Goldwin

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

“A hundred years from now…it may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child.” – Forest Witcraft

“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” – Japanese proverb