He's the English as a Second Language teacher at Lost River Elementary, but those who know him say he takes his job much further than the classroom.

In this week's Hometown Hero WBKO's Lacey Steele introduces us to Michael Meece.

"I teach English the same way that you and I learned English. As we were babies learning it, someone held up this and said, 'You want paper?' So then you end up learning that that's paper."

But ESL teacher Michael Meece goes beyond just teaching the students English as a second language.

"Whenever we need forms signed from the school or the kids need shots and that'll prevent them from being in school if they don't get them, then I'll take them to get what they need."

Principal Jim Goff says that's his character. "When he sees somebody who needs help, he's going to help them, and these people need a lot of help acclimating to our culture. He recognized that, and he's done what he needs to do to help them."

Those who know Meece say he's done everything from helping one lady fill out hospital paperwork and name her newborn to taking families shopping.

"It's really difficult to even figure out what food you can buy and what you can't, even what the date on the milk carton means. All of that stuff is really difficult unless you know English."

He says it all started when he met a translator who helps him help others.

"My translator that I use over there said that her son was sick, and when I asked if they had been to the doctor, she said, "Well, there's no way we could get to the doctor.' I'm not different from anybody else. Anybody else in that position would say, 'Well, then I'll take you.'"

Since then he's continued to help in anyway he can.

He says the heroes are his translator and many others he see's helping the families daily and that he's just a small part of a larger puzzle.

"They need time. They don't necessarily need people's money or TV's or telephones or things like that. They need people's time."

We honor Michael Meece as this week's Hometown Hero.

Meece says one of the best parts of his job is the opportunity to learn about other cultures.