Donald Nichols

I taught grade levels 6 through 10 for over a decade. I have taught a broad spectrum of students from those in AP history to children with autism, special needs, and those that can barely read English. I also served as the Supervisor of the Alternative Education program at my middle school to provide one on one guidance/instruction to at-risk youth. I have facilitated faculty workshops on the use of technology in the classroom and created many templates, lessons and presentations for my peers.

I love to perform. My co-workers often referred to my lessons as the "Nichols Show" in reference to my advanced use of technology and dynamic public speaking style. I strived to show pictures for every person and place, video clips for every concept and "out-of-the-text" stories to bring black and white history into a vivid and exciting audio/visual experience. I love to incorporate art, science, music and my own world traveling experiences into social studies education to make it fun and fulfilling. (I often give guitar or ukulele lessons during my lunch break as incentive, to build rapport and to instill love for learning.) Learning is not about the destination or "answer". I believe that true learning occurs during the educational journey with hands on activities, differentiated instruction and a genuine experience with the material. For me, Google Classroom is the best delivery and monitoring system to help pull it all off with style and fun.

I have received awards for perfect attendance, a yearbook dedicated to me, school news paper articles written about the pleasures of my class, teacher of the month, and more trophies for the sports I coached then the glass display case could hold. However, the true award was the opportunity to work with our youth toward creating better citizens and a better future for all.

I went to school on the Eastern Shore of Maryland at Salisbury State University. I put myself through school while simultaneously working up to 60 hours a week of construction. I earned BA degrees in Communications and History with minors in philosophy, music and art. I have extensive training in public speaking and the creation of presentations. I also finished my education at Salisbury University with a 4.0 in my Master of Arts in Teaching program.

I have always been called a "Renaissance Man" by my family, friends, peers, students and athletes. I am an educator, a historian, a scientist, a musician, a performer, an artist, an author, an athlete, a coach, a technician, a craftsman and a father. I fell in love with history and the idea of social studies education as an outlet for my diverse interests while traveling the rails around Europe. I then earned 2 more college degrees and became a teacher and coach. Throughout that decade of education I coached division champions and yearly tournament champions in boys middle school soccer. I also coached middle school boys and girls track with field athletes that placed in the Meet of Champions every year. I then moved on to coach boys varsity track and field for several years which led to the shattering of multiple school records and a state champion pole vaulter. I am currently working as a 7th Grade Social Studies teacher in an urban school. I am a loyal husband to a women I have been with more than half my life. We have an 8 year old son and an 11 year old daughter. I live for sharing my experiences and knowledge toward shaping a better future for all. I will always be an educator.