Bob Feurer was Nebraska’s Teacher of the Year in 2011 after having taught 7-12 science for 31 years in a school covering 13 zip codes! He discovered Habits of Mind by accident and used a blue collar approach; self taught and trial and error, to integrate them into his classroom and used them to direct 7th grade parent-teacher conferences. Feurer has presented HOM at workshops, awareness seminars in educational service units and his own district. He was asked to give the Maiben Lecture at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences using HOM as the subject. He was a three sport coach as well and helped his colleagues introduce the habits into their classrooms and activities. Feurer’s other honors include the Nebraska PAEMST for secondary science in 1994 and was president of both the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association and Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science. He is currently the president of the Nebraska State Teachers of the Year and a member of his local school board He sees the habits of mind as life-worthy skills that will transfer into lives both in the classroom and beyond.