Nicole Gratton
Newport City School
“Nicole Gratton is our rock star,” said Jeanie Kadmiri, a Newport City school guidance counselor. “Her energy, positive spirit and role modeling of healthy behaviors positively impacts our staff and our students. She never gives up on the kids, she reaches out to the staff and you don’t feel like you have to be a superstar.”
Gratton serves as a school interventionist at the school, assisting multiple young students in enhancing their reading abilities. She serves on the school wellness team, is a member of the walk to school program and does her best to organize a gambit of healthy and de-stressing activities for staff. On Friday mornings, Gratton leads an early morning yoga class and co-leads the Kids Running program, a large group of youth who regularly run. Gratton participates in a variety of community 5k runs, including the Santa run, Halloween Hustle and the Dandelion Run. “I am a volunteer for our school’s Bill Koch league and I ski each week with the students.”
Outside of school, Gratton teaches fitness classes at a local wellness center twice a week. “I have two children ages three and one. I am an avid skate skier and can now often be found either skiing at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center or on the Memphremagog Trails with one child on my back and one by my side. And I love the annual downhill running race from Bread and Puppet to Glover.”
“I love teaching here and being a part of the Northeast Kingdom community, “she said. Now in her sixth year at Newport City School, Gratton grew up in Watertown, New York, received her degree from UVM in Anthropology and Religion and subsequently returned to college to obtain her teaching certification. Prior to working at Newport City, Gratton worked at the Burlington Children’ Space and the Holland School. “I like to reach out to others and provide encouragement around health and fitness while keeping it fun.”
