Teacher Bio

My name is Nicole Ferguson Neal. I just moved to the Phoenix area and am starting my 10th year as a teacher. In this time I have taught music and choir K-12, AVID, Link Crew (HS leadership team), and opportunity (credit retrieval for freshmen and sophomores). I just finished teaching at a Title 1 high school in North Los Angeles county where I was also privileged to be the After-School Tutoring Co-Coordinator, Short Term Independent Study Coordinator, and Re-Engagement Committee Leader. This is my first year at Desert Meadows and I am excited to teach these young students!

I began teaching because I desperately needed a job and a private school needed a music teacher. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I loved teaching! Knowing I was out of my depth, I began talking with any teacher I knew to find out what I needed to do to be a great teacher. I started soaking up information and pursuing more so that my students not only learned content but loved learning it as well. Eventually I realized that I needed more formal training to be the best I could be. In 2017 I completed my Masters in Secondary Education and my credential.

My life outside of school includes running with my two beautiful dogs, hanging out with my husband, cooking, and volunteering at my church.

Educational Background:
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (Biola University)
Masters in Education in Secondary Education (Grand Canyon University)
Masters in Education in Educational Administration (In Process-Grand Canyon University)