david becker/viewBrianna Fait, 5, gets a hug from early childhood special education teacher Donna Nicholas at Heckethorn Elementary School, 5150 Whispering Sands Drive. Nicholas was named Teacher of the Year by radio station 98.5 KLUC-FM, Southwest Airlines, Nevada Power and Findlay Toyota.
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Donna Nicholas was focused while her class touched briefly on Presidents' Day, then discussed Abraham Lincoln. Nicholas showed her students pictures of the former president, then discussed aspects of his appearance, such as his beard.
Nicholas was named 2007 Teacher of the Year by local radio station 98.5 KLUC-FM, Southwest Airlines, Nevada Power and Findlay Toyota.
"Most teachers never get this type of recognition," Nicholas said. "I was dumbfounded."
She was nominated by one of her students and found out about the award at a surprise assembly held at Heckethorn.
"We need one of her in every school," said Samantha Kerstetter, occupational therapist at Heckethorn. "She knows how to handle the kids well. They respond to her."
Nicholas teaches special needs kids at Heckethorn Elementary School, 5150 Whispering Sands Drive, so her pupils are a mix of those who don't have verbal, motor or other skills. Because of that, Nicholas takes extra steps to incorporate those proficiencies into her lessons.
While focusing on Lincoln, students created their version of the president, which included a coffee ground beard. While working with the coffee, Nicholas encouraged the kids to smell the substance and note the look and feel of it.
"They've had a hard road, some of these little kids," she said.
While watching the class, it becomes apparent that Nicholas turns everything into a learning opportunity, including almost every word the kids say.
"I can teach a lesson about a chair," she said. "I'm really good at keeping their attention."
Nicholas focuses on 3 to 6 year olds in her classes at Heckethorn, where she has been teaching for six years. She began her career 22 years ago and said when she first started, there were only 13 early childhood teachers in the Clark County School District. Now, there are 150.
"I think this is really my niche. This is what I was meant to do," Nicholas said.
Nicholas has two assistants, Carol Smith and Merrie Farrar, without whom she said she wouldn't be as successful with her kids. The early childhood teacher noted her favorite part of helping the kids in her classes is seeing the growth that occurs in them throughout the year.
"There needs to be more people like her in the world that care," Kerstetter said.
Nicholas said she focuses on social behavior, which she feels is the most important skill for her students to learn while in her care.
"Language is a big thing, too. Language and manners," Nicholas said. "When they leave here, they know how to sit and listen."
Although Nicholas is teaching to a high-need section of the elementary school's population, she seems to be having a blast, giving out high-fives and sharing laughs with her students.
"The day I'm not having fun, I'm out of here," Nicholas said.
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