Nicole Hughes

National Director of School Leadership Development

Nicole Hughes

As a member of the National Program Team, the National Director of School Leadership Development will lead the development of programming, training and coaching of school and district administrators in order to build collective leadership to support Teacher Leaders as they lead change in their individual schools as a part of Teach Plus’s programming nationally and regionally.

Prior to joining Teach Plus, Nicole (she/her) served as the Campus Principal of Buchtel Community Learning Center, leading the turnaround efforts and implementing the College Career Academies of Akron. In Akron, Nicole earned the Ohio Association of Black School Educators’ Leadership Excellence award. She previously worked as the Headmistress of Pine Forge Academy, serving as the CEO of the historically Black boarding school. In 2010, Nicole founded a charter high school in Trenton, New Jersey, where 100% of the graduating classes earned acceptance to two and four-year colleges. She began her career as a New York City Teaching Fellow teaching history at Frederick Douglass Academy in Brooklyn, New York. Nicole earned two congressional citations for excellence in teaching while working in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Nicole Hughes graduated from Yale University with a BA in history. She earned an MST from Pace University, an EdM from Teachers College, Columbia University and an Ed.D from Kent State University. Dr. Hughes derives her greatest joy from spending time with her family – her husband, Casey, and their three children.