Ms. Nickerson is a first year teacher in the Math Department at New Providence High School. She is originally from East Windsor, NJ. She went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee and finished college in Ann Arbor Michigan. She enjoys reading historical fiction and fantasy, traveling the world, and eating pizza at her favorite Italian restaurant where she went to school in Tennessee. 

Ms. Nickerson has always been good with numbers, enjoys helping students learn, and gets satisfaction out of being a teacher.

She said:  “Math was my favorite subject in school, and my best subject. I really liked the problem solving part. It’s more than just the numbers. It’s not just about how to project yourself in front of students, or getting them to pay attention, but more about if the teacher actually enjoys working with children or young adults. It’s vital to like what you’re doing and be comfortable in the environment that you’re in.” 

Even though Ms. Nickerson is a math teacher now, that’s not what she has always done.

“Before I was a teacher I was an actuarial analyst. I was on my way to be an actuary, which is someone who works in the insurance industry, but I like being a teacher a lot more because I’m involved in working with people,” she said.

 She enjoys the path she’s picked for her career and recommends becoming a teacher to kids who are thinking about going down that road:  “I would say an important thing to think about when you’re deciding on your career is whether you like working by yourself in your own bubble all day long or, whether you want to be around people, interacting with people and helping people. If you like being around people and helping people teaching is a great career to consider.” 

Ms. Nickerson feels like she is adjusting smoothly to New Providence High School. When she was a student teacher in Tennessee she noticed that not a lot of kids had much of a desire to show up or be on time for class like New Providence students do. 

“So far it seems like a really great place. All of the teachers and administration are really supportive. All the students that I’ve met are really interested in learning and making the school a great place. So it’s a really positive environment from what I’ve seen so far,” she said. 

She appreciates the good attitudes coming from both staff and students, which help to make this such a  says a rewarding and fulfilling job:  “I think working in a school is a great way to still be involved in things and the subjects you enjoy . I enjoy interacting with people and helping people and also learning about myself and having the ability to grow and grow every day.”