Andrew Niblock ’97: Living and Working with ALS His efforts to inspire and educate his community were featured on ABC's "Good Morning America"

Andrew Niblock ’97 starts his day as head of the Greenwich Country Day School with hellos, handshakes and hugs.

Andrew Niblock, the head of the Greenwich (Connecticut) Country Day School’s lower school, makes a point of greeting his students by name as they step through the school’s entrance to start their day.

As the 1997 graduate of Washington and Lee University told Lara Spencer, an anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America”: “I have the best job in the world. There might be somebody out there who gets more hugs than I do, during their work day, but I’d like to meet them.”

About a year ago, Andrew was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. But he has remained on the job because he wanted to be an example for his students and teach them a lesson about life. First and foremost an educator, he has created age-appropriate videos to help them understand more about the disease.

“I want children to understand curve balls,” Andrew said. “No matter what is thrown your way … if a kid powers through or makes the most of something later because of knowing me, that’d be great.”

Andrew has also helped raise money for research, gamely participating in the ice-bucket challenge that circled the globe a couple of years ago. As the word about his battle with ALS has spread, several W&L classmates are helping raise money for research, too. John Garvey, Brian Kuck, Chris Dalton and Steve Tye will cycle 104 miles — from Newton, Massachusetts, to New York City — in support of the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

You can see Andrew’s interview with ABC here.

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