Weyer named to Women of Influence in education

Nichole Weyer was given the Women of Influence Award under Education by the Wyoming Business Report at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne on October 10 for women who are making a difference in Wyoming.

Several people are nominated, and the committee picks one winner from each category. Weyer’s nomination was for her volunteer service, all focusing on bettering the lives of children. This included Weyer being a foster parent in Hot Springs County.

Weyer said, “Many children have lived with us over the years and have been a huge blessing to our family. All children deserve a safe place to live. These children have taught us so much about unconditional love and compassion.”

Additionally, Weyer has served on the local school board for nine years in Hot Springs County, where she has served on many committees in this role. Weyer is part of the Wyoming School Board Association (WSBA), eight years as a trustee and four years as an officer, currently serving as the past president. The WSBA offers local school boards training, board governance, legislative assistance, and many more opportunities. Weyer has also been on multiple legislative committees, both state and national educational committees, and worked with school board members across the country making sure children receive a quality public education. Weyer is also part of the Consortium Of State School Boards Association (COSSBA) for the past two years. She served on the steering committee that built this association from the ground up. Then she served on the first board for COSSBA for a year. This board is one of the two the National Association for public schools.

Weyer said, “A few years ago, the only national association became very political and upset a number of states. COSSBA was formed at this time to offer a nonpartisan option for state associations to be affiliated with. COSSBA currently has 25 states that have joined the organization.”

Weyer added, “It has been my goal for many years to keep political affiliations out of education. All students deserve a quality education and as a local board member, it is essential that we keep our students’ education as a top priority and to not allow political influence to determine student learning.”

Weyer also said, “I think one of my frustrations lately has been that school boards in general are being attacked by lots of people who are upset at school districts. I think what people forget is that as a school board member, you’re a volunteer and you’re just trying really hard to do what’s best for kids and you’re not trying to politicize that. So for me, this award was meaningful because it showed that people understand that my volunteer time is spent on children and making sure children are safe and educated. So for me personally, it just meant a lot, especially with the negative narrative that goes around school boards right now, because most of that narrative is not true or accurate. In Wyoming, school board members are 100% volunteer. If you watch Colorado, they just implemented where they pay their school board members. Most states pay for their school board members who get a stipend.

In Wyoming, we fight against that. In fact, every time that legislation has tried to bring up a bill to pay school board members as school board members, we fight against it because protecting children should not be a political situation. You should just be doing it for what’s best for kids. So I think in Wyoming, in general, school board members are just doing it because they love school and they love children. So I think that’s what it honored for me.”

Weyer added, “Being on the school board isn’t always easy and in fact takes a huge amount of time and energy. However, I love it. I enjoy being a part of our outstanding district and watching our children learn and grow. It is very rewarding to see students grow up and be so successful in their lives. I am really proud of the work we do in our district. Our staff is by far the best in the state and therefore our students are getting the best education in the state. I am so lucky to have raised five children in this district and watch them flourish.”