Amber Nichols is a kindergarten teacher at Eastwood Elementary School in Morgantown, West Virginia. She is the 2023 West Virginia Teacher of the Year. With a Master of Arts in education from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Science in communications from Shepherd College, Nichols began teaching in 2001. Her teaching experience includes both kindergarten and special education.
She prides herself on creating an enriching classroom environment in which all students feel safe, loved and appreciated. Her teaching mantra is, “We are here for the kids and we have each other.” Social and emotional development and academic achievement are the rigorous goals she sets for each child in her class. Nichols is an active member of her school’s leadership and curriculum teams, as well as a behavior intervention team member, mentor teacher and cooperating teacher for interns at West Virginia University and high school students at Monongalia County Technical Education Center. She was recently awarded the Di Tosto Marockie Supervising Teacher Award at West University.
Outside of school, Nichols enjoys writing and spending time with her husband, three children and two dogs. She advocates purposefully for students with disabilities, especially those with medical differences. It is her distinct belief that, with the appropriate supports, all students can.
