Teacher ready to begin 39th year in classroom
Mike Sherman of Arlington Heights has a lofty goal: he hopes to record 40 years of teaching at Christian Liberty Academy.
As it is, in September he begins his 39th year of teaching Bible studies to kindergarten and primary grade students, making him the longest serving teacher on staff, officials say.
What makes his goal so remarkable, is that Sherman turned 90 over the summer.
Supporters of the school helped celebrate Sherman's birthday last month on the Arlington Heights campus, and they reflected on their good fortune of having him teach so many of their students.
"By God's grace, Mike has been able to continue his Bible teaching at CLA for nearly 40 years," says staff member Michael McHugh.
Sherman himself looks forward to starting another year. He laughs at some of the things his youngsters have told him, and he admits that working with them daily, keeps him young.
"It's the greatest therapy," Sherman says.
Remarkably, teaching is Sherman's second career. Before joining the school in 1969, he earned quite a reputation playing the piano at several downtown Chicago venues.
He studied music at the American Conservatory of Music, and helped start a Navy band during World War II that often played along side USO performers playing to soldiers stationed in the Pacific.
After the war, Sherman played with some well-known swing bands and orchestras before going on to play piano at Toppers Steak House for 11 years, and later at the Red Fox.
Sherman's life changed in 1965 when he and his wife, Sherry, met Paul Lindstrom, who was in the process of trying to start his new church in the suburbs.
Legend has it that Sherman was the one who suggested the name: The Church of Christian Liberty.
Beyond teaching at the school, Sherman and his wife often traveled in their motor home across the country, reaching out to the academy's many families who home-schooled their children, spreading the number of lives he touched even further.
Teaching offers him some of that same satisfaction, he adds.
"I just love the kids, and feel dedicated to the Lord's work," Sherman says. "It's almost like home missionary work."