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An adored kindergarten teacher for thirteen years,
Mrs. Debra Beth Nichol is Palmetto Elementary School's Teacher of the
Year.
Debra Nichol
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Nichol wanted to be a
teacher even as a girl.
"Ever since I was little, I used to line up all
my dolls and play with them in the basement where my Dad had built a
playroom", Nichol said. "I had a chalkboard and I loved to
pretend I was a teacher."
Eventually, she graduated high school, went on to
college and majored in education at Ohio State. She taught elementary
school in Ohio for several years, before moving to Florida and
influencing generations of siblings at Palmetto.
"I may have taught a brother or sister and now I
am teaching the little ones of those I saw as teeny babies," she
said. "I've watched them grow up."
As she makes her way to the school cafeteria, she's a
popular figure in the school corridors. Children of all ages greet
her; some with a kiss, others with an excited exclamation of, 'Hello.'
There is great affection and respect for this lady and her eyes
sparkle, her smile broad as she encounters the young students.
Youngsters love her and seem to know that when her shining gaze meets
theirs, patience and nurturing are certain.
"Mrs. Nichol is the very best teacher I ever
had," said one enthusiastic fifth grader. "She makes you
feel special. And, she taught me how to read!"
Dedication to career is obvious in Nichol's rapport
with her students.
"Í love teaching and I will always want to
teach," she said. "There's a Peter Pan quality to it. I love
to sit on the floor with the kids, they are all so special. Each has a
unique way of showing it.
"They come in at different stages," she
continued. "Some have never been to school, some are using
English for the
first time. I like to present things slowly, assuming some may not
understand. But, it's important not to lose the others. You want them to
participate, too.
"If I read a story, I might say, 'I bet some of you have heard this
story before and maybe you can help tell us what is coming.'"
Are the classes large?
"Yes, "but you can manage to reach them all," Nichol said.
"The most important part of my job is to foster the love of school.
"There is a wonderful book that says it all entitled Everything I Know,
I Learned in Kindergarten and all of it is so true," she went on.
"Kindergarten is a time to develop a child's self-esteem, to give them
a good self-image, to help them learn to get a long with each other and, of
course, to absorb basic skills."
Nichol has imparted that philosophy and much more to her many students over
the years and her unique dedication to her career has been recognized by her
fellow teachers who gave her the honor of Teacher of the Year.
"It's all about feeling good about yourself," she said. "If
you like yourself and you have that feeling, there will be success."
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