Congratulations to Nicholas McCoy, the 2025 Dr. Marilyn Nicholas National Student Teacher of the Year!

By Raevyn Harris posted 2 days ago

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Each year, KDP and the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) select the Dr. Marilyn Nicholas National Student Teacher of the Year to celebrate the exceptional contributions of a student teacher who demonstrates remarkable dedication, skill, and passion for the teaching profession. This prestigious recognition honors those who not only excel in classroom management and instructional strategies but also forge meaningful connections with students, parents, and colleagues. Through their commitment to fostering inclusive, engaging learning environments, these outstanding educators inspire others and set a high standard for the future of education.

The award recognizes one student teacher/intern annually who has demonstrated the ability to plan and develop classroom management skills and instructional strategies that support all students; establish interpersonal relationships with students, parents, faculty, and staff; and reflect powerfully on their student teaching experience. KDP and ATE are honored to partner for this prestigious award in offering national recognition, at least one speaking engagement, and a $2,000 award to our student teacher recipient.

In March 2025, KDP and ATE proudly renamed the award the Dr. Marilyn Nicholas National Student Teacher of the Year Award to honor Dr. Marilyn Nicholas, Professor Emeritus of Instructional Leadership and Professional Development at Towson University in Maryland. A champion of student teaching, Dr. Nicholas developed the university’s first student teaching center—integrating method courses in reading, language arts, and social studies with hands-on classroom experience. A long-standing member of both KDP and ATE, she helped create the award in 1994 and has passionately served as chairperson of its review committee since its founding.

This year’s honoree, Nicholas McCoy, represents the very best of what this award stands for. A recent graduate of Vanderbilt University, Nick earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Child Studies with minors in Anthropology and American Studies. Graduating with honors from Peabody College of Education and Human Development, he reflects on his time at Vanderbilt as truly transformative — both professionally and personally.

“My growth at Vanderbilt was fueled by enduring friendships, inspiring professors, and an incredible cohort of future educators — each bringing their own perspective to the art and practice of teaching,” he remarked. “I like to think of myself as a patchwork of the distinctive pedagogies and passions they shared.”

As an active member of KDP’s Alpha Pi Chapter, Nick helped create a welcoming space where education majors could belong, collaborate, and grow together. He served as chapter president for the past 2 years and led the chapter to being recognized as a 2025 Achieving Chapter Excellence Award recipient. His experiences in Metro Nashville Public Schools—teaching 4th and 5th grade at Eakin Elementary and Harpeth Valley Elementary—gave him a strong foundation for supporting diverse learners. One of his most memorable projects involved teaching social studies through the lens of World War II propaganda comic books, blending art, literacy, and history in a way that sparked creativity and critical thinking in his students.

Now, Nick brings that same energy and thoughtfulness to his own classroom as a 4th grade teacher at Countryside Elementary School in Barrington, Illinois. He continues to shape a nurturing, inclusive environment for his students — a dream made more attainable with support from KDP’s J. Jay Hostetler Scholarship.

“Teaching has always been part of my story,” Nick says. “Coming from generations of educators — both inside and outside the classroom — I am proud to carry that tradition forward through my own work with students.”

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