It’s not every day that a girl from a small town in rural Nebraska, population 400, grows up to be director of finance and operations in a Connecticut town more than 1,500 miles away.
“My high school class was 17 kids,” said Nickie (Nicole) Stevenson, who joined the Granby Public Schools’ administrative team in May 2024.
Stevenson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) and a Master of Science in School Business Leadership from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. She is certified in Connecticut as a school business administrator.
Along her way to Granby, Stevenson worked in the UNK financial aid office as a paraprofessional, assisting students and their families in completing financial aid forms and applying for scholarships. After graduation, she moved to Denver, Colo., to work as executive assistant to the managing partner of a large law firm.
It was in Colorado that Stevenson met her husband Jonathan through a friend. “They went to school together in Connecticut, and when Jon came to Denver on business, we were introduced,” Stevenson said.
Her first job in Connecticut was as executive assistant to the chief financial officer at Simsbury Bank. “After a little over a year, I became the business office supervisor with South Windsor Public Schools, where I was later promoted to assistant director of finance and operations,” Stevenson said. “After 17 years there, I was afforded one of my greatest opportunities, which was to become the director of finance and operations for Granby Public Schools.”
Asked what attracted her to Granby, Stevenson was quick to respond. “Granby is a small-town community that is doing great things, and in my opinion will continue to be more successful as the town invests in its schools and community,” she said. “This is a community and a leadership team that I wanted to be a part of. Everyone, in every facet of the school district, whether it be the leadership team, teachers, secretarial staff, custodial/facility staff, cafeteria staff, teaching assistants or coaches, has one common goal, and that is to see our students grow, learn and essentially become positive contributors to society. It is this team of people and this community that I wanted to be a part of, so when I saw the position open, it was an easy decision for me to apply. And as an added bonus, it brought me back to my roots, as that kid growing up in rural Nebraska. It has made me regain that sense of home.”
Goals
Stevenson’s nine months in Granby has given her perspective and insight as she tackles her first budget.
“I know a school budget is always a hot topic, and it is a large piece of the myriad responsibilities that this position manages,” she said. “A school’s budget is the driving force behind most, if not all, decisions made within a district on any given day. Typically, the schools’ overall mission, vision and/or strategic plan are rooted in the numbers. For informed decisions to be made, school business officials must be highly involved.”
Stevenson not only manages the behind-the-scenes, day-to-day operations within the financial arena, she also oversees facilities, transportation, food service, insurance and more. “Granby Public Schools are thriving because of the team of people I work with every day,” she said. “Collaboration and teamwork at every level are what make a school district successful.”
Hoping that her experience will contribute new ideas and perspectives that will positively impact operations, Stevenson said she hopes to bring the entire community together to reach common goals and to gain commitment and understanding for all students. “My goal is to increase collaboration among all stakeholders, making every educational decision multi-faceted and the results mutually beneficial,” she said.
“Oftentimes, this means a certain level of change, but change that will promote forward thinking and the ability to advocate for those who need it most, our students,” Stevenson continued. “At the same time, my experience has made me realize that I must take ownership as financial steward by holding myself accountable for not only ethically budgeting and expanding taxpayer dollars, but for managing change and ensuring that I am the transformational leader the school district not only needs, but deserves.”
Family
Stevenson lives in Windsor Locks with her husband Jonathan, her daughter Aria, 13, her son Grayson, 11, and their “smart, goofy” Doberman Pinscher Piper, 7.
“I grew up with Dobermans, and they’re great with kids,” Stevenson said. “Our kids keep us super busy. Aria does competitive gymnastics and Grayson plays soccer and basketball. We enjoy being outdoors hiking, camping, occasionally testing ourselves on a challenging ropes course or competing in a road race. We also love having down time at home, spending time with family and friends sitting poolside, watching football or roasting marshmallows around the fire pit.”