The J. Michael Zimmers Academy, located inside Lawrence Education Center, will be dedicated on Oct. 22. Zimmers, a longtime Springfield District 186 educator, is being remembered for his many years of service to children.
Lawrence Education Center, 101 E. Laurel Ave., currently houses the Douglas Alternative program, which serves students who have been expelled from their regular middle school or high school. The Douglas program is being renamed to honor Zimmers, who served as a District 186 teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal and principal.
Following his retirement, Zimmers served on the District 186 school board from 2013 until his death in 2022. The list of all he did is impressive, but what motivated him was helping students.
Kari Borders, principal of Zimmers Academy, served as assistant principal with Zimmers at Jefferson Middle School.
“Mike was the type of leader who cared for all kids; to him, it didn’t matter what part of town students came from, their home life or their income,” Borders said. “They all were important. I learned so much from him about giving families grace.”
Zimmers, a tall man who created a presence (a kindergartner once called him a giant), had a gentle manner, a welcoming smile and an engaging laugh. He welcomed all, sought input from many, and cared about the well-being of everyone. That was evident in his work in the community with Sunrise Rotary, Real Men Read and United Way of Central Illinois, to name a few.
An engaged educator and leader, Zimmers brought the idea of gendered classes to Jefferson Middle school when he served as principal (2005-2008). The all-girls and all-boys classes were embraced after Zimmers researched the idea and presented it to the school. The classes turned out to be successful.
In 2022, Zimmers was awarded the Springfield Education Association’s Bob Goldman Friend of Education Award, something he said made him proud as his roots began as a teacher and an activist with SEA.
Always supporting teachers, Zimmers was in the process of establishing the Mike Z. Teacher Fund when he died. His wife, Nancy, and daughter, Layne, continued with his plan to provide funding for teachers to attend professional development opportunities.
“Mike was such a special man to his students and colleagues, his many professional and personal friends, and to this community,” Nancy Zimmers said. “Even four years later, I still hear from someone every week or so about something he did for them or a funny story about him or how they miss his laugh.
“Layne and I are so very pleased that the Springfield schools have honored him with the naming of the Zimmers Academy and also to have his name linked with historic people like Rheuna Lawrence and Frank Lloyd Wright.”
Lawrence Education Center was named after Rheuna Lawrence, father of Susan Lawrence Dana, who was serving on the school board at his death. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the library in the school, which was paid for by Susan Lawrence Dana.
The Oct. 22 dedication will begin at 4 p.m. with an open house to tour the newly remodeled Lawrence Education Center, followed by a renaming ceremony and remarks by Superintendent Terrance Jordan, family members and others.
Layne Zimmers, Mike’s daughter, has followed in his footsteps. She was a teacher and is now the assistant principal at Butler Elementary School.
“My dad inspired me to be an educator,” she said. “We shared so many wonderful moments so being able to see him remembered is incredibly touching. My mother and I are honored to have my dad’s name associated with a place dedicated to education and the future of children While we wish he could be here to see it, we are grateful that his legacy will continue to live on through the students, families and educators who call Zimmers Academy home.”
Cinda Ackerman Klickna had the utmost respect for Mike Zimmers and is proud of having been Layne’s English teacher at Southeast High School.
