As part of our ongoing strategic planning work with The National Charter Schools Institute, our Education Division has been taking time to reconnect with our “why”—the personal purpose that drives each of us in education. This reflection has reminded us that behind every role and every initiative are powerful stories rooted in service to students and schools. We’re excited to share those stories through our Sponsor Updates.
This month, we’re proud to feature Stan Nicol, Data Analysis and School Accountability.
What motivates you to come to work every day?
I do not feel like I need motivation to go to work every day. I enjoy the work that I do for Buckeye Hope and see my work as a chance to continue to grow.
What do you enjoy most about your role at BCHF?
When the work I do has a positive impact on our schools.
How do you define your “why”? Is there a particular moment that reinforced it?
My “why” is my goal of providing a data service to our schools which they may not be able to do internally. The challenge is providing a service which meets the needs of our variety of schools in the Buckeye Hope portfolio.
How do you reconnect with your “why” during tough times?
When I hear a school leader tell me how impactful my data reports are it encourages me to continue my work.
What have you learned about yourself through your work? How do you hope to continue growing in your role?
I have learned that I can have a positive impact with our sponsored schools. I hope to incorporate more State level data within our portfolio data.
Who inspires you in your work?
Dr. Young is a great mentor who I often go to for advice on improving our data systems. The strong content area specialist at Buckeye is also a source of inspiration.
Who are you outside of work?
I try to get in an hour per day physical activities. This is usually a combination of weightlifting and aerobic exercises. In the winter months I enjoy skiing. My wife and I try to get to one of Ohio’s State or metro parks each weekend.
Stan’s focus on using data to empower decision-making highlights how essential this work is to student success across our portfolio. We’re grateful for the expertise and purpose he brings to our team, and we look forward to continuing to share the stories that drive our mission forward.