Nicole Chu is a teacher and writer who inspires her students to discover a passion for literature and writing. They collaborate on class anthologies, perform Shakespeare's plays and slam poetry, and present at community board meetings to change the world.

Nicole is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, a writing fellowship from the Cullman Center Institute for Teachers, and a Big Apple Award recognizing teacher excellence in NYC. For the 2018-19 school year, she served on the Chancellor's Teacher Advisory Group which met bi-monthly to discuss and affect DOE policies. In 2019, she was accepted as a fellow of the Academy for Teachers.

Nicole has an MA in English Education and an MFA in Fiction Writing. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and newborn son. She is currently working on a middle grade novel that captures her love for dogs and stories of resilience.

Ms. Chu considers herself a life-long learner thanks to the support of her loving family who voraciously reads in multiple languages, travels to museums around the world, and teaches her "to breathe it all in and love it all out."

Ms. Chu also credits her public school teachers (shout out to Laurel Schmidt, Ms. Milwe, and Ms. Jago!) for inspiring her to discover her own voice through literature, writing, art, collaboration, and community activism. Whether it was giving a speech at a city council meeting, writing in a journal she wasn't allowed to neglect, or discovering the next life-changing book, these model educators shaped Ms. Chu's early learning experience in the classroom, which now directly impacts you!

Stuff you wouldn't know just by looking at me:

1. I've been a hardcore fan of Serena and Venus Williams since 10th grade and will fist pump and shout "Come on!" at my TV during grand slam time.

2. I love collecting vintage stamps from the 1960s, singing Karaoke songs in my tiny apartment (as my husband tells me to keep it down), and stepping into fresh snow to leave the first footprints.

3. I hate avocados, sneezers in the subway, and reading maps.

4. I once took a selfie with a farm goat who almost chewed my hair off. We're still friends though.

5. I dream of transforming our school into Hogwarts, letting the sorting hat redistribute us into houses, and leading Dumbledore's Army #2 into the confines of a vanishing room ... anyone with me?!? (Calling all Gryffin-Terrapins!)

6. If #5 (re: Hogwarts dream) fails, I'm ready to support your own goals and dreams. Tell me what they are!