Leslie J. Nicholas

English Grade 7, Wyoming Valley West Middle School, Kingston, Pennsylvania

Total years as a classroom teacher: 28

EDUCATION

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

• Mr. Nicholas’s classroom is unique in that the teacher is not the one source who disseminates all knowledge to all of the students at the same time. He often teaches one student a skill because they need that information to accomplish a task. When another student needs that same skill, he refers them to their classmate who already knows how to do it. He says it is peer tutoring at its finest.
• Mr. Nicholas has discovered that cooperation and collaboration are critical components of success. He says that educators must prepare students to take their place in the world they will inherit and, in that world, the ability to collaborate is critical.

“While allowing his students room to experience and grow, Mr. Nicholas maintains an amazing amount of order and organization. His students gain a new appreciation for discipline and learn to meet deadlines with great efficiency and promptness. They learn to work as a team and help one another when needed. Each publication he advises is carefully planned from start to finish, granting every person a job and a responsibility all his own. By upholding such an organized staff, Mr. Nicholas’s students learn more about reliability, order, and efficiency than one can imagine.”

Kate Bolesta, Former Student

 “Mr. Nick’s industrious work ethic never fails to seep into the habits of his students.  Because one of Mr. Nick’s many catch phrases is ‘Make it first class or third, but never second,’ students quickly realize they cannot cut corners because if something is worth doing, it is worth making excellent.”

Lindsey O’Brien, Former Student