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A Community Leader, Advocating for Diverse Career Pathways and Green Initiatives

 

Nicole “Molly Bee” Molinaro is a passionate advocate for public education, diverse career pathways, and community support, striving to ensure fair opportunities for students of all backgrounds. As a Westchester parent of a kindergartner and future Proviso West Panther, she deeply values the transformative potential of public education.

Currently pursuing an associate’s degree in Horticulture at Triton College, Nicole embarked on this academic journey in her 40s, exemplifying her commitment to lifelong learning. In addition to her studies, she serves as a writing tutor at Triton, supporting fellow students in their academic endeavors. Nicole’s professional engagement extends to the Quinn Center of St. Eulalia in Maywood, where she is deeply involved in their garden project. She is actively engaged in both Westchester and Proviso ecological issues and initiatives.  As a civic advocate, Nicole has also played a role in forming the League of Women Voters in Proviso and has served as an Election Judge, underscoring her commitment to engaging young people in the democratic process.

Through her multifaceted roles, Nicole exemplifies dedication to creating supportive learning environments, promoting mental health resources, and advocating for alternative educational paths that prepare students for both college and career success.

​​Establishing Cultural Safety and Accountability 

Nicole believes in creating supportive learning environments including providing more mental health resources and outdoor-based curriculum, recognizing the essential role mental and emotional well-being play in academic success. Her advocacy for mental health awareness and her hands-on experience with programs such as Mental Health First Aid and Community Health Worker training and a local domestic violence victim advocacy group has deepened her understanding of how schools can better support students dealing with trauma and mental health challenges.

​Improving Communication and Collaboration

Nicole wants Proviso students to engage in meaningful community and service-learning opportunities that provide them with a deeper understanding of being a part of a community.  She strongly feels that communication with ALL stakeholders from the community at the table is paramount to ensure that our students are not only successful, but understand what it means to be an engaged member of our Proviso community.

Redefining Student Success and Career Pathways

Nicole is committed to promoting trade opportunities, dual credit classes, and alternative educational paths that prepare students for both college and career success. Her personal, non-traditional career journey reflects her understanding the importance of creating choices for students that need alternatives to transitional college pathways. Nicole is dedicated to allocating resources for students who seek alternative pathways and may lack support at home.

 

Ensuring Equitable Resource Allocation and High Quality Education For Every Student

Having moved school districts in the sixth grade, Nicole understands the impact of educational disparities, as her move revealed gaps in her math education due to inequities in her earlier school career. She sees equitable education as a right that should not be determined by a student’s background or demographics. Currently a Writing Tutor at Triton College, Nicole works with students in developmental English courses and hears firsthand the struggles some Proviso students face—students who may have to prioritize work over school. This insight drives her commitment to advocating for better support systems that allow students to balance educational goals with financial responsibilities.

MEET NICOLE "MOLLY BEE" MOLINARO

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