Nicole Elliott
Director of Special Populations
Nicole Elliott is the Director of Special Education at Colorado Connections Academy. She earned her bachelor's in aerospace studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a master's in curriculum and instruction from the University of Idaho and an education specialist degree in educational leadership and administration from Northwest Nazarene University. Ms. Elliott shares her story below:
“My education career started in 2002 after the events of 9-11 forced a detour from my career as a helicopter pilot, a change that has resulted in the challenging and rewarding career I now have in education serving and supporting students and the teachers that work with them.
I started as a math teacher working with at-risk students in a private boarding school and continued my work with the at-risk student population in public schools as a math teacher at both the middle and high school levels. I have been both an assistant principal and principal before becoming a Special Education & Federal Programs Director in brick and mortar schools. I started working with Colorado Connections Academy in Summer of 2020 as the Director of Special Populations, supporting students and teachers K-12.
"My hope is that the people I get to work with through Colorado Connections Academy feel supported so they can be successful in their pursuits."
— Ms. Elliott
One of the quotes I hold dear and use to help guide my work with students, caretakers, and colleagues at Colorado Connections comes from Maya Angelou - “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” My hope is that the people I get to work with through Colorado Connections Academy feel supported so they can be successful in their pursuits."