Dawson Spotlight: Nicole Zito
Have you met Ms. Nicole Zito yet? She is originally from Storrs, Connecticut, and has lived and taught in Taiwan, Brazil, Chile, and the U.S. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Haverford College in Latin, her master's degree from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College, and doctorate in K-12 administration from Boston College. Currently, she is Dawson's Middle School Teaching & Learning Coordinator and teaches advisory, language lab class and global studies classes. You can learn more about her in this edition of #DawsonSpotlight!
How long have you been a teacher or in education?
I have been in education since 1999 when I began my career as a high school teaching fellow for the PE/Health department at Taipei American School. I think I was hired more to coach soccer and track & field. I had to learn how to play and coach badminton, rugby, and water polo.
What inspired you to become a teacher/educator?
I had a high school Latin teacher who was a mentor to me in the classroom. She inspired me to become a Latin major in college. My second job was actually teaching Latin I and Latin II. Two years ago she actually came to our house for dinner in Ipswich, and I had the chance to thank her for being an inspiration to me.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching and working at Dawson?
Though I have only been working at Dawson since July, my favorite thing, without a doubt, is the contact that I have every day with Dawson students who inspire me with their creativity, questions, and positive energy. I also have two children of my own that attend Dawson, and it is wonderful to be able to get a hug from them during the day.
What is one thing about you that would surprise students?
I think that Dawson students would be surprised to know that in fifth grade, I was so incredibly homesick at sleepaway camp, and my parents refused to pick me up for the full month. They kept some of the mail that I sent them home, and students might be surprised by my tactics to make them feel guilty.
What helps you feel strong?
Exercising has always made me feel strong. I used to play a lot of team sports such as soccer, which I really miss. Perhaps in Vegas, I might try to improve my tennis game or golf stroke.
What does Stronger Together mean to you?
Stronger Together means that working with a team has the potential for greater productivity and quality than working alone. Highly successful teams utilize individual strengths towards a common goal and in the process help develop one another and hold each other accountable to become better versions of themselves.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the courage I have had to take risks in my life. For example, in 2019, our family moved to Santiago, Chile. Though it was hard to leave our community and friends, the adventure that we had as a family through civil unrest and COVID made us stronger as a family.
Do you have any career highlights that you’d like to note and share with our community?
I am always open to new learning opportunities. I have most enjoyed my work with novice teachers in terms of supervising practicum teachers onsite in Boston Public Schools, serving as the Director of Curriculum for Exploration summer programs at Yale, coaching online teams of teachers through World Leadership School, and co-leading the fellows program at Nido de Aguilas in Chile.
Watch her QuickFire Q&A in the hot seat on IGTV. Thank you for sitting in the spotlight, Ms. Zito!
Check out all of our #DawsonSpotlight features here.
Watch her QuickFire Q&A in the hot seat on IGTV. Thank you for sitting in the spotlight, Ms. Zito!
Check out all of our #DawsonSpotlight features here.
The Alexander Dawson School
The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain, an independent school located on 33-acres in the community of Summerlin, is Nevada’s first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school for students in early childhood through grade eight. Utilizing the unique Challenge Success framework, Dawson uses research-based strategies and programs that emphasize student academics, wellbeing, and a healthy school-life balance to create more engaged, motivated, and resilient learners and leaders. At Dawson, students achieve their individual potential while savoring life and meeting the challenges of the world.