Nicole Bevilacqua

Senior Specialist, Texas

nbevilacqua@niet.org

Nicole Bevilacqua is an NIET senior specialist for Texas. She has over 15 years' experience in education and has traveled the state of Texas and the country providing leadership training and support for organizational change, impact, and effectiveness for school leaders at all levels. Nicole has consulted on and authored school leadership curriculum, social/emotional learning curriculum, and workshops for emerging and seasoned leaders for over a decade.

Before joining NIET, Nicole was an elementary special education teacher, a master teacher, worked at the state level assisting districts with grant-funded school reform initiatives, coordinated organizational learning for Education Service Center, Region 13, in Austin, Texas, and ran her own coaching and consulting business. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in art history at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and her master's in educational administration at the University of Texas at Austin. 

Nicole Bevilacqua

Why are you passionate about working at NIET?  

I believe in a free and public education for all students while also recognizing the need for new, innovative solutions that ensure public education is both effective and equitable. NIET has been a driving force in developing research-based, practical solutions that work within the current systems to improve student achievement and teacher retention. At the same time, NIET challenges the status quo and uplevels the school experience for both students and teachers. I love being part of an organization that advocates for teachers, elevates the profession, and expresses real value through the undeniable gains in student achievement our partners consistently demonstrate. 

What is your superpower/hidden talent? 

I can see the potential hidden inside people I meet − those desires and talents they're longing to develop but haven't yet given themselves permission to do so. I love to form genuine connections with others, mirror back to them their own gifts, talents, and power, and encourage them to reveal more of their authentic nature. It's a beautiful thing to watch people fall in love with themselves, step into their greater purpose, and confidently express their gifts in the world! 

What do you do in your free time? 

I am active in my local Toastmasters club where I have served as president, and vice president of public relations. I competed in the International Speech Contest and placed third at the district level after having to quickly transition from an in-person performance to an online speech over Zoom during the pandemic. Toastmasters has helped me develop deeper relationships, become more authentic in my communication of ideas, and grow more confident as a leader. Plus, I love mingling with a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, political perspectives, and professional industries that I may not otherwise cross paths with in my day-to-day life.