If you head to the C-400 hall on “Talk Like a Pirate Day,” (Sept. 19) in addition to a heavy aroma of several dozen original doughnuts, you will likely see science teacher Nikolai Curtis dressed in full pirate garb. Curtis is a self proclaimed life-long nerd and enjoys all things science fiction and fantasy from DragonCon to dabbling in voice-over work. As one of Grady’s biology teachers, his love of sci-fi is well suited.

Curtis was born in Heidelberg, Germany into a military family, which may explain why he uses such intense eye contact despite his otherwise playful appearance. As a child he moved several times, both in the United States and Germany, eventually settling in Whitefield, NJ. Curtis came to Atlanta in 1998 to work in the reptile house at the Atlanta Zoo as a staff herpetologist (or reptile expert).

Curtis worked at the zoo until the summer of 2002 when he began his teaching career through the Atlanta PLUS (Preparing Leaders for Urban Schools) program, a program which hires teachers with real world experience to work in inner-city schools.

“I loved the zoo world and I loved working with animals but I wanted to do more,” Curtis said. “I didn’t see any opportunities to do more unless I went to graduate school. I had always said I wanted to be a teacher so I applied to the program.”

The program’s selection committee accepted Curtis and eventually placed him at Grady.Curtis worked that summer at West Fulton Middle School, now BEST Academey

“[West Fulton Middle School] taught me a lot about classroom management,” Curtis said. “A lot of the kids there, they weren’t bad kids. They just were kids who weren’t good students. … they needed a lot of support, and luckily I was able to learn a lot [at] that middle school.”

Curtis has a confident swagger and a quick smile, so it’s hard to imagine that he has so recently experienced great tragedy.

Last year, Curtis lost his wife, Rachael, to a pulmonary embolism, and shortly after, his father lost his battle with cancer. Curtis said he could not have gotten through such a hard time in his life without the friendships he has made with other teachers and the relationships he has made with students. Curtis said many of his former students check up on him and that one of his classes even made a birthday card for his wife. Despite all the generosity from his friends, Curtis says it’s still hard.

“I’m centered to a degree,” Curtis said. “But, believe me, my wife’s picture is over here on the wall and I give her a kiss every morning. This place is wonderful, but I’m only able to do it with support.”

It was with his wife that Curtis started returning to DragonCon each year. Now, Curtis volunteers with the convention through guest transportation, driving special guests from their hotels to their seminars, panels and workshops. This year, he met Cary Elwes, Wesley from The Princess Bride, while volunteering. He said that although the guests aren’t always well-known, science fiction actors and writers, interacting with them is still exciting.

Curtis hopes to incorporate his love of fantasy into his teaching, through outlets like cosplay and a genetics lesson based on Harry Potter characters.

Curtis’ other hobbies include improvisational theater, ju jitsu and soccer. He is the staff adviser for the Grady Gamers Club and the Wellness Club. He began many of these hobbies with his wife.

Despite his investment in several clubs, Curtis said the most rewarding part of teaching is the relationships he forms with students.

“When I came here, I was only 27 and I was extremely independent,” Curtis said. “I’m not gonna lie, I was a little arrogant, and teaching has taught me to be willing to rely on other people, to reach out for help. A lot of kids say that I’m one of the strongest people they’ve ever met, to see me be able to handle these things. I was only able to handle these things with the help of my fellow teachers and my students.”  p