Nareg Dekermenjian gets surprise honor as NHL top teacher

Nareg Dekermenjian is a fifth-grade teacher who is a hockey and children lover. This past week, he received the surprise of his life. He assumed that the Los Angeles Kings were coming to his school for just a basic hockey activity. But then, before everyone, he was announced the 2025 Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher. The audience erupted in cheers, and Nareg Dekermenjian was in shock.He had no idea this monumental moment was waiting for him. It was a day of pride he will never forget.Five years back, Nareg Dekermenjian was a financial advisor. But something did not seem correct. He had a desire for more. He desired to teach. So he made a very big decision: he quit finance and became a teacher. From then on, he claims not to have experienced a single bad day. He enjoys being surrounded by children, watching them develop, and putting enjoyment into education.He was particularly proud to have been recognized by the NHL and NHLPA. Kings mascot Bailey and retired player Daryl Evans were present when he received the award. "I was speechless, absolutely speechless," Dekermenjian said. "I knew I was a finalist, but not in my wildest dreams did I think I won this thing"It started early with him. Nareg Dekermenjian had traveled from Beirut, Lebanon, to California as a child. He didn't speak English, and it was tough to make friends. But the day he grabbed a stick in a game of street hockey altered everything. There was joy, confidence, and a new means of belonging to be found in it.For years, he coached roller hockey, played the sport himself, and shared his enthusiasm with his sons. Today, he even has a miniature hockey rink in his own backyard. But most of all, he loves to help players both on and off his classroom floor. Nareg Dekermenjian doesn't only teach subjects in school. He teaches life. When he went through open-heart surgery, he used it as an opportunity to discuss health and the human body with students. He made it interesting, entertaining, and full of humor. Parents attest that he treats every student with care, kindness, and respect.He also employs hockey as a means of imparting hard lessons. In school, he screens game footage to teach teamwork, never quit, and believing in yourself. "We throw this word 'grit' around quite a bit and you can learn ... that through sports, team building" he says.Due to his dedication and large heart, Nareg Dekermenjian received this year's Most Valuable Teacher award. And now, he hopes to encourage other teachers and perhaps even his students to continue giving back, as he does each day.Also Read: Rob Blake Steps Down As Kings GM- All Eyes Now On His Replacement