Mrs. Nichols was raised in Drexel, NC, and graduated from East Burke High School before attending Appalachian State University. With a degree in Elementary Education for grades K-6, she began her teaching career at Glen Alpine Elementary School in 1989. In 1997, she transitioned to Valdese Elementary School. In 2005, she earned a Master of Library Science (K-12) and served as the media coordinator at Valdese Elementary until her retirement. Missing the school environment and her students, she returned to teaching at New Dimensions in the fall of 2019, marking her 36th year in education.

She is married to her husband, Denny, and they have two adult sons, Garrett and Jared. Mrs. Nichols enjoys spending time with her family, attending UNC basketball games, and reading.

Passionate about working with students and parents, she believes every student can succeed when provided with the right resources. Her goal as an educator is to make learning engaging and challenging for all students while supporting classroom teachers to help them thrive.