Working at NewPath: Nicole’s Story

A Day in the Life of a Teacher & Group Facilitator

Nicole Smith has found her calling with NewPath. Her journey illustrates the impact she’s making in the community as she fosters hope and connection in her students’ lives.

Community Impact & Student Connection

Nicole Smith has worked with NewPath Child & Family Solutions for five years as a Teacher & Group Facilitator at NewPath Academy. In her role, she supports students experiencing severe behavioral problems that are negatively impacting their ability to function in a typical school setting. The youth in this program may or may not have a documented mental health diagnosis and/or specific learning disabilities. Some students may have experienced trauma and require a therapeutic learning environment while they heal. Nicole is part of NewPath’s network of solutions, meeting our clients where they are and helping them find success.

Student-focused approach

“After 25 years as a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how congenital and environmental neurodiversity shape learning, behavior, and emotional development. That experience, along with being a mother of an adult neurodiverse child, has fueled my commitment to advancing trauma‑informed, neurodiversity‑affirming practices in both clinical and educational settings. I plan to complete a doctoral degree in EdD/PhD in Educational Psychology,” shared Nicole.

“My goal is to integrate clinical expertise with my educational background so I can provide direct therapeutic support while also contributing to research, training, and policy that improve how schools understand and respond to neurodivergent and trauma‑impacted students. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to the growing body of peer‑reviewed work distinguishing congenital from environmentally influenced neurodiversity and to help shape evidence‑based interventions and diagnostic frameworks, including those emerging in the upcoming DSM‑6. I want to bridge the worlds of education, neuroscience, and clinical practice to create more supportive, informed environments for children and adolescents,” said Nicole.

Promoting Student Success

“I had an eighth-grade student of mine come up to my desk at the end of the day and state that he finally gets why ‘I keep them so busy.’ Which made me laugh, of course!” shared Nicole.

“He stated, ‘I got it! You’re getting us ready! So that no matter what high school we go to, we are ready for what ninth grade will be like. You know… so we know HOW to think, not just WHAT! Just like you always say!’,” recalled Nicole.

“To see him embrace and enjoy knowing he can handle any challenge coming his way and feel prepared to do so was inspiring because he is going to do great things, I promise! When students can articulate the value of what they have learned and how they’ve grown, those are the moments that stay with you forever,” said Nicole.

Supporting Families through Understanding

“I was actually recruited from an early childhood agency and student advocacy career five years ago by the superintendent of NewPath at the time, Tim McCoy. However, I have stayed at NewPath because it was one of the few places where my beliefs about education, behavioral health, and trauma‑responsive practice were not only understood but actively lived out,” said Nicole.

“After 25 years in the field, administration and the classroom, I knew that traditional educational models often overlooked the neurological, developmental, and emotional realities that shape how children learn and behave. NewPath stood out as an agency that embraced those truths and built its services around them, welcoming passion and ingenuity,” explained Nicole.

“As a parent of a neurodivergent adult child and an educator who has witnessed the impact of both congenital and environmental neurodiversity, I wanted to be part of an organization that honored the whole child; their history, their brain, their resilience, their potential, and their voice. NewPath offered a space where I could continue that mission while growing clinically, academically, and professionally. It was the first environment where my passion for trauma science, neurodevelopment, and therapeutic education felt not only welcomed but essential. It is a place where I can put my heart and soul to good use,” shared Nicole.

More Than a Profession. A Purpose.

“Since I first entered the field of education and behavioral health, I have always felt there was a need to bridge behavioral health, neurodevelopment, trauma science, and the biological underpinnings of mental health. Traditional education didn’t always support that ideology,” said Nicole.

“Five years ago, I chose to continue that passion here at NewPath, an agency that not only aligned with my professional beliefs and aspirations but, at the time, was leading the way in trauma-informed care and therapeutic in-class interventions, amongst an array of other services. Seeing the impact and growth of the students I serve because of NewPath’s unique commitments and supports while surrounded by like-minded peers; well, that’s rare and something worth getting up for every day,” said Nicole.

The NewPath Difference

Nicole followed her calling, ignited her passions, and found her purpose in the network of solutions at NewPath. Working at NewPath Child & Family Solutions allows you to be a positive role model in a child’s life and help them understand the importance of healthy decisions and relationships. You will be a key person in helping youth and families through some of their most difficult times, and have the opportunity to see them achieve many successes.

“I have been with NewPath for five years, during which time I have had the privilege of serving students and families across a wide range of behavioral‑health and educational needs. These years have allowed me to grow alongside the agency as it continues expanding trauma‑informed, neurodevelopmentally aligned, and clinically grounded supports for youth. My time here has shaped not only my professional identity, but also my long‑term commitment to bridging education, neuroscience, and mental‑health practice,” said Nicole.