Parish’s top teacher shares lessons about life and facing death

Pierre Martel, a U.S. history teacher at Eunice High School, is the parish’s top high school teacher. Ten years ago Martel was recovering from a liver transplant and in July his colon was removed. Martel has emerged with an inspiring story about life. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
Pierre Martel teaches U.S. history at Eunice High School and has been recognized as the top high school teacher in the parish.
Pay attention students because 47-year-old Martel has a lessons about life.
Ten years ago he received a liver transplant. He was at death’s door until the transplant.
“I had months to live. That’s not overstating it,” he said.
“I was fortunate enough to get a transplant. My donor was a 56-year-old woman from north Mississippi. I reached out a couple of times to the family to make contact, but they never responded. I let it be,” he said.
The liver transplant has worked out fine, he said, but it wasn’t the end of Martel’s health issues.
In July, his colon was removed because of ulcerative colitis, a condition he had since he was 16 years old.
“It had gotten to the point where it was just too difficult,” he said.
And by the way, in between the liver transplant and the colon removal, Martel had lost his job at Central Middle School in a workforce reduction move.
“Every day you see things. You don’t ask yourself ‘Why me?’ because that will drive a guy crazy. You don’t play the ‘why me’ game,” he said.
“... every day is a blessing,” he said.
Martel uses slogans in class such as “Be nicer than you have to be.”
And philosophical observations such as “Just treat every day like it is the best day ever.”
His optimism and energy seem boundless as he teaches juniors American history in Room 3 at Eunice High School.
“I have more energy than all my students. You can quote me on that. I try to overwhelm the room with energy. I try to overwhelm with enthusiasm. To sell history in 2016, it is not a small task. I try to make it as fun and interesting as I can,” Martel said.
“I tell my students there is only one way to be in Room No. 3 and that is be a rock star, meaning you try your very best and you have a positive attitude,” he said.
Discipline isn’t an issue in his class, he said. “I handle my business in the classroom without assistance,” he said.
“If you set the tone in the classroom they will follow. Am I more patient than most? Yes, I’m very patient because they are kids,” he said.
Martel said there are no limits about what is dicussed in his classroom.
“We cover everything. We cover religion, aborton, race relations, legalization of marijuana. We tackle everything with a sense of open-mindedness,” he said.
Martel is native of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. He taught in New Brunswick and Poland before coming to Central Middle School in Eunice in 1996. He was twice named teacher of the year at Central Middle School, but in 2012 he lost his job there as the school system’s budget was reduced. He went to Crowley Middle School for a half year before landing a job at Eunice High School.
Martel’ son, Brandon, 16, is junior at Eunice High School. A step-daughter, Meghan LeGrendre, lives in Moncton.
“I’m in extra innings, overtime...” he said.
“I can’t explain how fortunate I feel because I should be dead a few times. Ochsner has saved my life twice. I can’t say enough good things about Ochsner,” he said.