This week, we’re showing our #CPSDPride by giving a #SuperSchoolShoutout to Hillside Elementary School paraeducator Nikki Alcover and fifth grader Simon Wilburn.
Nikki joined Hillside this year and is teaching preschool special education for the first time. “I’ve been working with kids for 22 years now and this position interested me a lot,” she said. “It is a challenge in the best way because I’m learning so much while I’m connecting with these students.”
Nikki has wanted to be a teacher since she was a little girl playing pretend “classroom” with her friends. Now, as a military spouse, she is proud to use her lifelong dream to help military students. “Having patience, warmth and an instinct for understanding the feelings of students is so important,” she said.
Nikki focuses on paying close attention to the needs of each student to ensure they all get the individualized support they need to thrive. “It’s fun for me to take an interest in each student’s life and my team supports me along the way, so I feel like I am constantly growing in this role,” she said.
Simon is quickly approaching middle school and is grateful for the time he spent at Hillside. “I didn’t really know what to expect when we moved here, but I like my class and my teacher Mr. Davis, who is super helpful,” he said.
Science is Simon’s favorite subject, but he is a well-rounded academic who also enjoys writing and social studies. “This school’s cool because we’ve taken field trips and done a lot of fun projects,” he said. “My favorite field trip was when we went to the Washington State Capitol to learn about the state and government.”
Simon’s ultimate passion is film, and he has already begun his own production with the help of his friends. “My goal is to become a director when I grow up,” he said. “I love science fiction, so I hope to use the knowledge I get at school to help create the stories in my films.”
Go Huskies!