Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Nicole Bronson of Education360 LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Nicole Bronson.

Hi Dr. Nicole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
One of the most interesting parts of my journey is that I had no idea I would wind up here. For most of my childhood into my college career, my goal was to be an attorney. In college, I was told that I could major in anything and go to law school. So, I decided to major in Mathematics because I loved math. Fast forward to my senior year of college. After participating in a shadow program at the law school, I realized I had no interest in being a lawyer – too much reading and writing! So, here I am graduating with a math degree in a couple of months and absolutely no clue what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Everyone asked me if I wanted to teach and I would emphatically respond, “No!”

I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in December. Then, in January, I did a 3-month study abroad in Madrid, Spain. This trip would change the entire trajectory of my life. I returned from Spain with a goal of becoming a management consultant who worked for a global organization with operations in a Spanish-speaking country. To reach that goal, I went back to school and got a bachelor’s in Spanish and a master’s in International Business. After completing graduate school, I started working as a financial analyst at a wonderful company in Melbourne, Florida. The company was great, my co-workers were amazing, and I was rapidly climbing up the ladder. However, in my heart, I felt like I was called to do more – to do something that changed lives for the better. I decided to leave my corporate role, take a pay cut, and begin teaching math at a local high school. Now, it has been 23 years since I made that decision and to this day I believe that education is one of the most honorable and important fields.

My educational journey includes 11 years of full-time teaching, 10 years of coaching and consultation, six years of serving as a school or district instructional leader, and five years working internationally (4 in Honduras, 1 in Dubai). When I returned to the United States in 2019, I started working first as a consultant and then regional director of programs and partnerships at New Teacher Center, a national education nonprofit. New Teacher Center was instrumental in my development as a consultant and as a leader. In 2024, my former partner, Taryn and I, focused in on work through my own education consulting company, Education360. Education360 offers coaching, professional development, audits, and learning walks for schools looking to increase math opportunity and achievement. We also offer math tutoring/coaching for students grades 6-12. Additionally, I serve as a lead coach for Gwinnett County Public School’s instructional coach endorsement program. And, I am a part-time teacher with Atlanta Public Schools, teaching AP Calculus, AP Precalculus, and College Readiness.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Being an educator is rewarding but is intense work that requires a large investment of mental, emotional, and physical energy. Being a teacher was time-consuming and being a principal was all-consuming because students, parents, staff, and community members all looked to you. I would work 12 hours each day during the week as well as on the weekend. Your school community becomes a second family. Making room for a personal/social life while meeting the demands of being an educator is extremely challenging.

One of my most difficult periods as an educator was when my parents passed away. My dad died of leukemia in the summer of 2014. As a daddy’s girl, I was devastated. My mom passed away suddenly a little over a year later in November 2015. I was teaching full-time and it was also my first-year in my doctoral program. My mom was a teacher as well. She and I debriefed every first day of school from when I was in Kindergarten through me being a principal…. I still miss giving her the recap of my first day of school… I honestly don’t know how I survived that year. I think knowing I had to show up for my students helped. And, my parents didn’t raise a quitter so I was committed to completing my doctoral program.

As an independent consultant, the challenge that I continue to face is how much time the role of being a business owner requires. I quickly realized that servicing school clients and acquiring school clients are two different skillsets. No matter how good I am at coaching, delivering professional development, conducting learning walks, teaching, etc. if I don’t market and acquire clients, I will not get paid and I will not have a business. I am not a big social media person – which doesn’t necessarily work in my favor when people equate being active on social media to being good at what you do. I’ve always been more about doing the actual work as opposed to just talking about the work.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Education360 LLC?
Education360 partners with school districts and schools to support their efforts to elevate leadership, instruction, and student learning by ensuring educators are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to make schools a place where both students and adults thrive. We provide tailored professional development, coaching, and strategic support that builds educators’ skills, aligns district priorities, and drives measurable student growth. We specialize in supporting schools to increase mathematics achievement and opportunity. Additionally, we build capacity in instructional coaches, mentors, and teacher leaders. Finally, we offer math tutoring and coaching for students grades 6-12.

What sets us apart?
– Our deep math content expertise: proven experience in math instruction and coaching backed by student outcome data and testimonials.
– Our focus on impact: We design our work to move from learning to practice, deliver actionable feedback, and produce measurable results.
– Our focus on YOU: We tailor workshops, coaching, and planning to meet the unique goals and challenges of the schools and educators we serve.
– Our commitment to expanding opportunity: We work with schools and organizations to widen access, implement effective support systems and structures, and increase opportunities for both students and educators.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the work we do to expand math opportunity from writing articles about the importance of math access and literacy for Black and Brown students, to engaging community members in conversations on ways they can increase math opportunity for the children in their spheres of influence, to bringing together math thought leaders to share ideas and ways they are impacting education and students in their areas, and to being in the day-to-day work teaching and tutoring students. In summary, I’m most proud that we continue to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

We offer both virtual and in-person services. We are based in the Metro Atlanta area, but we also work in other cities and states. Please reach out if you’d like to know more. https://education360llc.com/

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I wish I had found support earlier in my entrepreneurial journey. It would’ve saved me some heartache. So, advice #1, do find a mentor or a coach. What has worked for me is to find people whose work and interests align with mine and then ask to have a conversation with them. I have found it’s also helpful to become a member of a local organization and actively participate. Opportunities start to open when you are consistent in your engagement, authentic, and not there to just take but to also give in the relationship.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://education360llc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctornic_consulting/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/e-nicole-bronson-ed-d-3122a4b1