Walking through the halls of Bader Hillel High with Mitchell “Papa Coach” Lechter, you’d think he’d been teaching there his whole life. The pride he takes in his classroom, the easy rapport he has with passing students; it all feels deeply rooted. But in reality, he only began his journey at Bader Hillel High five years ago.
In 2020, Lechter’s son, Reb Avner Lechter, a Judaics teacher and basketball coach at Bader Hillel High, needed help with the basketball team and asked his dad to lend a hand. Mitchell gladly accepted; it was a chance to spend more time with his son while mentoring the high school boys. That’s when he lovingly earned the nickname “Papa Coach.” Not long after he began volunteering, Reb Avner told him, “Dad, these boys could really use someone like you here in a teaching capacity — you should go talk to the boss.”
Lechter called Chabad leader Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin to discuss possibilities. They agreed he would start as a tutor and mentor, working about 12 hours a week. Lechter enjoyed connecting with students, becoming a part of the Bader Hillel High community.
“My biggest motivation for wanting to be at Bader Hillel High was that I saw many of these boys are away from home,” Lechter said. “They need adults who treat them with respect, kindness, and concern, and they know I’ll advocate for them. I’m going to help them even if they think they’ve given up.”
Since then, both his timesheet and his list of titles have grown. Today, he works full time as the English language arts teacher, physical education teacher, and study hall supervisor — and yes, he’s still the assistant basketball coach!
As the English teacher, he teaches all grade levels, including his favorite subject: creative writing. “One of my strengths in the classroom is that I have a lot of experience as a writer,” he said. Back in graduate school and then as a tenure tracked assistant professor, he wrote volumes of poetry, competed in poetry contests, and even won the Bicentennial Writing Contest at the national level. It was that same poetic charm, he joked, that helped him win over his wife, Clara, when they were just starting out.
Lechter said that beginning at Bader Hillel High as a tutor helped him earn the respect he now enjoys as a classroom teacher. And he’s still proud of the school’s basketball program. “We have 22 out of 35 boys coming out for the basketball team this year!” he said.
Growing up on Milwaukee’s northwest side, Lechter’s family wasn’t particularly observant, attending synagogue only from time to time. Still, he was bar mitzvahed — a moment he’ll never forget, as it took place the day after President Kennedy was assassinated. Today, he’s a proud member of the Bayside Shul, where he’s been active since 2002. He credits his children’s growing observance and the warmth he received from Rabbi Shmaya Shmotkin and the Shul community for bringing him closer to Jewish life. Every Shabbos, you can find him at the Bayside Shul reading a psalm at the end of services, with so much heart and energy that he’s earned a permanent spot for the foreseeable future.
Lechter now lives in Glendale with his wife, Clara, and enjoys being close to his children, Misia (Yosef Cohen) and Reb Avner (Gavriella), as well as his grandchildren. In his spare time, he loves to write poetry, listen to live music (especially the blues), spend time with family, ride bikes, read, coach basketball, and explore new places.
Lechter has led an exceptionally interesting life. This is just a small glimpse. Over the years, he’s worked as an assistant professor, real estate investor and property manager, bar owner (“The Avalanche”), and import and distribution business owner. But in his years of “retirement,” he’s discovered the role that brings him the greatest pride and joy — teaching at Bader Hillel High School.
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MEET AN EDUCATOR
Writer Nicole Boico is the associate director of the Coalition for Jewish Learning of Milwaukee Jewish Federation. This regular feature, from the Coalition for Jewish Learning, is to celebrate local educators. To suggest someone for coverage, contact Boico at NicoleB@MilwaukeeJewish.org.
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