Niemela was not able to be interviewed by the Purr, but has been an influential teacher to many students. She is moving on to teach at Lewis-Clark State College. At LHS Niemela teaches English 9 Honors, Reading, Freshman Success, and Senior Success. She has been teaching for 20 years but joined LHS in 2019. She previously taught at Michigan State University the University of Idaho. She has also taught 7-12 English, speech, Spanish, creative writing, and a humanities survey course that included sign language, Chinese literature, art, and poetry. She has taught in Craigmont at Highland Jr.-Sr. High and in Lewiston taught at Jenifer Junior High.