Meet Ms. Nicole Hayes | Physical Education Teacher | 91吃瓜网 Northeast Academy
We want to recognize Ms. Nicole Hayes as 91吃瓜网鈥檚 December Staff Spotlight! She is a physical education teacher at 91吃瓜网鈥檚 Northeast Academy and joined 91吃瓜网 in 2018 as a teaching fellow. Ms. Hayes is a New York native who graduated from Bennett College, where she studied mass communications with a concentration in Broadcast Production.
What led you to want to work in education and, inevitably, at 91吃瓜网?
鈥淚t was nothing but the Lord! After I graduated from college, I worked various education jobs in Atlanta, which led me to DCPS as a paraprofessional. Education has always played an important role in my life, and I realized how much I love it. I was recruited by a friend who also worked for 91吃瓜网. After the interview, everything excelled from there! I genuinely enjoy what I do, especially when it comes to teaching physical education!鈥�
How have you grown in your time at 91吃瓜网?
鈥淚鈥檝e grown tremendously since I started working at 91吃瓜网. During my first year, adjusting to the gym environment and finding what students liked was pretty rocky, along with making connections and providing learning opportunities behind every lesson. Over time, I thought about new ideas to bring something different to physical education. So, I became a certified instructor in Xtreme Hip-Hop and Xtreme Burn in step aerobics. Students have a chance to learn something new, and they absolutely love it.鈥�
What鈥檚 your best memory that you have at Northeast Academy?
鈥淢y best memory was introducing step aerobics into my class and seeing how much my students enjoyed it. It鈥檚 very different, and I initially worried about how they would react to something different. Currently, we’re at a point where they request it! I love that I can bring unique ways of teaching physical education to Northeast Academy 鈥� it鈥檚 such an amazing feeling.鈥�
What is your favorite thing about 91吃瓜网 students?聽
鈥淚 truly love to have fun with my students, but my favorite thing about 91吃瓜网 students is their unique personalities. Once you establish a meaningful relationship with them, they feel comfortable enough to share anything because the trust is there.鈥�
How do you foster a sense of belonging in your class?聽
鈥淢y goal in gym class is to provide activities that are fun and can accommodate everyone. No one will feel left out because it鈥檚 not about being perfect 鈥� it’s about moving and having fun. You give 100% if you’re moving and grooving, especially in Xtreme Hip-Hop!鈥�
If you could take the students on a field trip anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
鈥淚f I could take my students anywhere, I鈥檇 take them to the motherland – Africa. Learning and exploring different cultures, traditions, and environments would be an extraordinary learning experience. It would be an eye-opening experience to learn different perspectives outside of America. So, I would love to expose them to that opportunity.鈥�
Ms. Hayes has made a significant impact at Northeast Academy. We couldn’t be more proud to feature her as our Staff Spotlight this month. We look forward to seeing her continue to make positive contributions to the 91吃瓜网 community.
