Nicole Wyant
Nicole (Nikki) Wyant, Executive Director at Work Skills Training Center for Youth, Inc., is a passionate educator with 17 years of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. She recently served as a Workplace Readiness Skills Instructor at Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, where she designed and delivered customized training programs to help neurodivergent learners build meaningful career and life skills. Nicole is also launching her own nonprofit organization, the Work Skills Training Center for Youth, Inc., a specialized career and technical education program for transition-aged students with disabilities. Through this program, students gain hands-on vocational experience by working in a greenhouse where they grow produce and use it in a commercial kitchen to prepare items such as salads, sandwiches, and desserts for a partnered convenience store. Each month, students also participate in a community luncheon where they practice customer service, communication, and workplace professionalism in real-world settings. Nicole’s passion for education began in childhood when she knew in kindergarten that she wanted to become a teacher. She enjoyed playing school with her siblings, creating assignments, and imagining classroom experiences that made learning engaging and enjoyable. Her personal life also shaped her professional mission. As a single mother of three children, she developed a deep commitment to understanding neurodiversity and supporting individualized student success. During challenging financial periods, she worked multiple jobs—teaching during the day, waiting tables at night, and working weekends at a convenience store—to provide for her family. Despite these challenges, she returned to college to earn her Masters in Special Education from Old Dominion University while continuing to work and raise her children, demonstrating resilience and dedication to lifelong learning. Throughout her career, Nicole has specialized in creating inclusive, strengths-based learning environments that prepare students for employment and independent living. Her professional expertise includes individualized education program (IEP) development, adaptive curriculum design, workforce readiness instruction, and educational leadership. She is deeply committed to empowering students through practical, hands-on learning experiences that build confidence, independence, and real-world skills. Nicole strongly believes that with determination, perseverance, and opportunity, individuals can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Through her teaching and nonprofit work, she continues to advocate for equitable education, workforce access, and meaningful opportunities for students with disabilities.
• Special Education Teacher
• Autism Specialist
• Bridgewater College - BS, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
• Old Dominion University - MsEd, Special Education and Teaching
• Mission trip to Tijuana
• Mission trip to Virgin Islands
• Worked in orphanage
• Parents were foster parents for 25 years
• Grew up with foster children in home
• Youth leader
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success entirely to the foundation of empathy and gratitude instilled in me during my childhood. My parents were foster parents, and I vividly remember children arriving at our home with everything they owned carried in a simple trash bag. Witnessing that from a young age gave me a profound understanding of others' struggles and a deep, lasting gratitude for the family and values I was anchored to. Alongside that, growing up in my church youth group and taking part in international mission trips during high school completely shaped my worldview. Traveling and experiencing different cultures and hardships firsthand gave me a huge heart for service. Ultimately, my success is not just a product of hard work; it is fueled by this lifelong calling to help, serve, and uplift anyone I cross paths with.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came early on when I first started teaching. A seasoned colleague reminded me that we never truly know what our students are dealing with behind closed doors - that some children arrive at school having not eaten, and will return to a home with no food. The advice was simple but profound: Always treat them with kindness and make sure you are a safe place for them. I have carried that with me every single day. While any profession can have frustrating moments, especially when navigating challenging behaviors, keeping that perspective changes everything. It reminds me to look past the behavior and see the person. I have always viewed the students I teach as my own kids, and choosing to love and treat them with that same level of care is the guiding principle of my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My biggest piece of advice to young women entering the industry is to work incredibly hard and never stop striving to make your dreams a reality. There is no substitute for grit, dedication, and rolling up your sleeves. However, I would encourage them to pursue those big dreams while staying deeply rooted in their core values. Let empathy and kindness be the compass for your ambition. Work tirelessly toward your goals, but remember to give yourself grace when things aren't perfect, and know that the way you uplift and treat people along your journey will ultimately be your most meaningful achievement.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
For me, the greatest challenge I deal with is perfectionism. The challenge is that perfectionism masquerades as a strength while quietly limiting my growth. It creates a constant bottleneck; wanting every detail executed flawlessly makes it difficult to fully delegate and lean on my team. It also breeds a subtle fear of failure that can stall decision-making and stifle my most innovative, risk-taking ideas. Beyond the work itself, there is a heavy, invisible burden to make achieving these impossible standards look entirely effortless, which fuels imposter syndrome and pushes me toward burnout. The ongoing work is unlearning that standard—realizing that being exceptionally impactful is far more powerful than being perfect.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
At the core of both my personal and professional life is my Christian faith, which serves as the true compass for how I interact with the world. Rooted in that faith is a non-negotiable commitment to kindness and extending grace to others. I deeply value the understanding that every individual is uniquely wired—we all learn, process information, and navigate challenges differently. For me, true leadership and meaningful connection mean meeting people where they are, honoring those diverse approaches, and fostering an environment where empathy allows everyone to thrive and feel valued.