MADISON – Kelli Nichols is working as assistant principal at James Clemens High School.

Nichols’ responsibilities will focus on curriculum and instruction, including orientation and mentoring of new teachers, guidance, scheduling and advanced-placement study.

Kelli Nichols (standing, left) is shown with husband Chad and sons Cameron, Asher and Deacon. (CONTRIBUTED)

She first taught in Murfreesboro, Tenn. at Oakland High School and the inaugural faculty of Siegel High School, where she helped establish student organizations and events. She then worked as school technology specialist.

“With the birth of James Clemens, I was blessed to be given the opportunity to return to my ‘sweet home Alabama,'” Nichols said. “I joined the James Clemens team in April 2012 as instructional partner.”

“Working alongside an amazing group of teacher leaders and administrators, we successfully established a culture of collaboration and student achievement,” Nichols said.

Nichols fondly remembers her freshman English class at Oakland. “I pray I did not look as scared as they did on our first day of school,” she said.

She also felt close to Siegel’s student council officers who started a canned food drive. The first drive collected 800 cans, compared to 30,000 last year.

“The students I was blessed to have the year my first son, Cameron, was born will always be a part of (our lives),” Nichols said. Fives classes made scrapbooks for Cameron with “letters to him about me, giving him advice and a quote to live by.”

Nichols earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Alabama and a master’s degree at Middle Tennessee State University in administration and supervision.

She and husband Chad have three sons: Cameron, a first-grader at Mill Creek Elementary School, and twins Asher and Deacon, pre-kindergartners at Lindsay Lane Christian Academy.

“Educators I work with every day, throughout Madison, continue to amaze me,” Nichols said. “I know we’ve only tapped the surface with what the James Clemens family will achieve. I’m excited to see what the future holds for the Jets.”

Nichols fills the slot vacated by Heather Donaldson, who replaced Dr. Julie Finley at Bob Jones High School.