Nicole Gilmore is our new Winfield Scott Elementary Assistant Principal for USD 234. She will start her new position in the 2024-2025 Fall school year. We are excited to have her!
A bit about Nicole:
Nicole's Background-
Nicole has been serving as a K-12 Special Education School Social Worker at the SEK Interlocal #637 for the past 6 years. During this time, she's been engaged in individual, group, and classroom-level interventions at their behavioral day school (TLC) in Girard, Kansas. She has contributed as a member of the Professional Development Committee, crisis response team, and as the lead of the behavior intervention team within her school.
Concurrently, she's been working as a part-time Adjunct Instructor at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, teaching Bachelor's and Master's level courses for the past 4 years. She is delighted to share that she has recently been recognized as the 2024 Outstanding Adjunct of the Year!
Beyond academia, she also served as a Color guard Coach at Pittsburg High School Marching Dragons for 7 years. She also runs a small business called Peridot & Pearl, where she crafts hand-poured, small-batch candles and wax melts.
In addition to these roles, her previous experience spans across hospital settings, child welfare, and nonprofit administration.
Regarding her education, she obtained her building principal certification from Pittsburg State University in 2023, completed her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Washington-Seattle in 2016, and earned both her Bachelor in Political Science and Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Kansas in 2015.
Her leadership involvement encompasses various roles: serving as a Board Member for the Kansas School Social Workers Association for 3 years; participating as a Board Member for the Partnership for All Cherokee County Children (PACCC) for 1 year; contributing as a member of the Cherokee County Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT) through KUMC for 2 years, where she played a key role in developing a transportation program for our most vulnerable residents in collaboration with CHCSEK and SEKCAP; and serving as a Specialty Team Member for KUMC's School-Based Mental Health 2023-24 ECHO, where she has led presentations on addressing challenging behavior and co-regulation strategies. Additionally, she has prior board experience with the Horatio Alger Association, serving on their Alumni Advisory Committee for 2 years, and worked as a Field Director for scholarship marketing for the State of Kansas for 4 years.
What do you like about working in schools and what do you hope to bring to your new position as assistant principal?
" I love the opportunity to positively impact the lives of students and contribute to their growth and development! Especially working with K-2, it is the first exposure that these young students have of school. I want to make it a positive place, and develop that love for learning early on. Being able to support students in overcoming challenges, achieving their goals, and fostering a strong sense of community where we help each other, and raise kind and caring humans, is very important to me.
As I transition into the role of assistant principal, I aim to bring a combination of experience, empathy, and dedication. With my background in social work and education, I understand the importance of fostering a nurturing and inclusive school environment where every student and staff member feels valued and supported. I hope to leverage my leadership experience to promote collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and parents to enhance the overall educational experience. Additionally, I aspire to help implement innovative strategies that promote academic excellence, social-emotional well-being, and growth of all students within the Winfield Scott community."
Nicole & her family-
"I am originally from Baxter Springs and Columbus, Kansas! I grew up in Baxter from birth to 4th grade, and then moved to Columbus to finish out my 4-12th grade educational journey!
Outside of work, I cherish spending time with my partner of 7 years, Cooper Neil, who is the Director of Instrumental Music at Pittsburg High School. Together, we share a passion for music and often attend concerts and performances in our free time. We're also proud parents to our furry companion, Monk, a lively 4-year-old Lhasa Apso. Monk brings boundless energy and joy into our lives, and we love taking him on outdoor adventures, whether it's hiking in the mountains or simply exploring local parks. Travelling is also a big hobby of mine and I have been to 35 states and 5 countries so far. This summer, I will be going to take a 35-day Europe trip, where I will have 10 more countries to add to my list!"
A message from Nicole-
"I really appreciate that quote by Brene Brown: "A leader is anyone who holds themselves accountable for finding potential in people and processes." It speaks volumes about the kind of leadership I aspire to embody. As I step into this new role, I'm enthusiastic about the opportunity to create an environment of growth and empowerment, while also actively seeking ways to enhance our processes for the benefit of everyone involved. I'm eager to collaborate with all of you as we work together to drive positive change!:
Welcome to being a Tiger, we can't wait for you to start this journey with us!