At New Millennium Secondary School (NMSS), we’re all about building close connections — the kind that help us rise together and catalyze great changes in the lives of our students. Our COO (Chief Operating Officer) Nichole Sims (Ms. Nicky), is one of our family secrets and we’re delighted to share her with you in the interview below. She has been with NMSS for 13 years and is a core part of our family here, so we asked her a few questions to help you get to know her better.

When did you know you wanted to be an educator?

My passion has always been to help young people and NMSS allows me to do that daily! I started off in retail, but lost my job. I returned to school and began working at a center that provided tutoring to students K-12. After that, I joined NMSS in 2009 by working in the front office — I have been hooked ever since!

Who was your favorite teacher and why?

I had two favorite teachers in school. Ms. May was my 5th grade teacher who would always catch me reading. She told me reading would take me places if I kept it up. Mrs. Howard taught me how to love who I am. Living life as a teenager can be hard and you need support. She would speak to us young ladies about body image, career goals, and help us see more possibilities for the future.

What are some favorite aspects of your role at NMSS?

Just like most women I enjoy shopping. As COO, I’m able to shop on the job for school event items, ASB event items, and school supplies. I get to know everybody which helps me to build relationships I truly cherish with the students and staff. They are my family away from home. I love to see new students enroll in the school, because that adds new family to learn and grow with us for four years, and it always makes our lives richer.

How does the NMSS mission fit with your personal life values?

We make changes daily to meet the students where they are at, and to accommodate the current challenging global climate. I’m always trying to apply that to my life and it’s a great match for how I like to live! I adapt to changes, rise to the challenges, and keep having fun, because each day is new – it’s never the same.

My middle son graduated from NMSS 2012. He attended the first year it opened in 2008 and the following year I lost my job, then I joined the NMSS family in 2009. I wasn’t sure how my son would feel with me working at the school, but it was great. I gained more kids out of the deal and became an auntie at the same time. The students made me feel at home and I became a part of their family.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love hanging out with my family. We go to the park, the pool when it’s hot, we cook, and we watch DC and Marvel series with my youngest son.

Extended Family at School

One of the greatest benefits of choosing a charter school is the tight knit community that we create here. Yes, we are also an open enrollment public school with free tuition, a safe environment, and a personalized educational experience — those are great benefits too! We make it personal, we put ourselves out there, our students can gain college credits with dual enrollment and show incredible test scores with our double vision math classes.

Everyone needs support – and life gets better when you layer support in multiple areas of your life! NMSS is designed to give that personalized support and extended family feeling at your very own, local, safe, secure high school – the safer, smaller option in Gardena, Ca.

Reach out to learn more about your student’s options at NMSS. Now enrolling!

Call us at 310-999-6162 or send an email with your questions to our office at klozano@newmillenniumschool.org

About NMSS

The New Millennium Secondary School (NMSS) is a charter high school in Gardena, CA committed to preparing students to become life-long learners and dynamic leaders in the competitive 21st century. NMSS was created to address the rising global competitive environment for talent. Our students enjoy a small school education with big school sports and accredited community college classes. Enroll your student today.