Nicole Davis, Hudson Schools
Position: 5th-12th grade band teacher
Years Teaching: 8 years
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, baking, going on walks with my husband and my dog, playing in local municipal bands, and spending time with family and friends.
What do you enjoy most about teaching? One of the joys of my classroom is how band is the creative outlet for many of my students. Being able to see them create beautiful music from nothing and watch how they embody that experience is inspiring! I constantly learn from my students every day- to be given the opportunity to teach them is a blessing.
What do you find most challenging about teaching? Balancing my home and work life, and having enough time in the day to be able to provide all of the opportunities I want to for my students.
Best tip for new teachers: Build relationships with your students. It is truly important to have that trust and mutual respect- not only for the sake of learning in the classroom, but also for them to know that you care and that they can reach out to you for help whenever they need it.
Best tip for career teachers: This goes for new teachers as well- don’t be afraid to ask for help! Utilize your colleagues and teachers from other districts, and never stop your own professional development. Attend conferences, have phone discussions, bring in clinicians- learn something new every year to bring back to your kids.
Favorite piece of advice for students: When you commit to something- dig in. Never settle to accomplish something at a mediocre level- you can always keep striving to improve yourself and what you do!
What being a Gold Star Teacher means to you: I am very honored to have been chosen for this award! I am incredibly lucky to be able to work with the amazing students, staff, and parents in my current (and former) school districts. Several of my former teachers who I look up to greatly received this award, so this means an incredible amount to me. To me, being a Gold Star Teacher means being committed to your students and your district, supporting your students through their needs and challenges, and working to help students achieve at their very best.
Watch Nicole’s video here!