The Principal's Perspective
May 26-29
Dear Nichols Families,
As we reach the final days of the 2025–2026 school year, I find myself thinking of the classic Boyz II Men lyrics: “Although we've come to the end of the road, still I can't let you go.” It is always bittersweet to say goodbye to a school year, but as we close this chapter, we know that every ending opens the door for new beginnings, fresh starts, and long awaited warm, sunny days!
This time of year brings many transitions. We are sadly saying goodbye to our wonderful and dedicated staff members who will be leaving the Nichols community, bidding a proud farewell to our incredible 8th graders as they head off to high school, and wishing the very best to the families who are moving out of the district. Thank you for everything you have poured into our school. You all will always be a forever LION!
There is no denying that it’s been a tough, demanding year. Yet, in the face of challenges, our community did what it does best: we focused on our students, stayed dedicated to the work, held each other together and pushed forward. Because of that collective grit, our academic scores have increased, and our preliminary data shows undeniable, continued gains.
In fact, our school’s dedication to equity and structural improvement was published in 2025 in a peer-reviewed academic article, highlighting our deep commitment to improving systems for marginalized populations. We don't just talk about change; we are actively built into the research of how to create it.
Our data reflects this momentum. According to our 5 Essentials and Panorama data:
Student-to-Teacher Trust: Our score increased by a massive 17 points on the 5 Essentials survey in just one year.
Student Peer Relationships: We saw an 8 percentage point increase in how favorably students view their interactions with one another. Furthermore, when analyzing responses specific to our Black students, Nichols scored higher than the district average.
Speaking on Racism: On the question "How well does your school do with allowing students to speak about racism?" our favorability increased by 2 percentage points.
School Climate: We saw across-the-board increases in student Sense of Belonging, Student-Teacher Relationships, and overall Engagement.
Our teams meet and review these metrics, and we intentionally plan our school structures around this data. Are we at 100%? No. Could our favorable percentages be higher? Of course, and we want them to be. These statistics show that we are deeply engaged in equity and community-building—not because of district prompts, but because it is the right and important work to do for our children. It helps them to become better citizens and to build a better world. We are incredibly eager to see our final spring data, and our newest 5 Essentials data, but early indicators point to even more gains across the board.
All of this work could not be done without all of us working together! Thank you, Nichols parents, students, and staff, for partnering with us through the twists and turns of this year. We have come to the end of this particular road, but the path ahead for Nichols is brighter than ever. This will be the last Principal's Perspective for 2025-2026; thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and all of the great news surrounding this awesome community!
Memorial Day Affirmation
On Memorial Day, we pause to honor the brave service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. Their courage and selflessness in an effort to secure and protect the freedoms we enjoy today, leaving behind a legacy of service that can never be fully repaid. Yet, as we remember the fallen, we also acknowledge the profound sacrifice of their families as well. For every hero we lost, a family was forever changed. Today, we express our heartfelt gratitude to both the fallen and the loved ones they left behind, ensuring that their shared sacrifice is never forgotten. Like so many in our Nichols community, I call all of the names in my family who are no longer with us in the physical realm, who served this country in war time and in times of peace. A thank you can never be enough; we affirm the tremendous sacrifices that have been made. We are forever indebted to our service men and women!