About WHitney Nieves

I was born and raised in the hollers (valleys) of the Mountain State, West Virginia. I hail from a humble, poor working class of coal-miners who were forced to enter the workforce at a young age to support their families. I am breaking generational curses: not only am I the first in my family to graduate high school, but I also paved the way as the first college graduate. I have been in school, pursuing knowledge, since I entered kindergarten in 1997! I knew at a very young age that I wanted to make a difference in the world. In 2001, I told my 4th grade teacher that I was going to be the first woman president. I was told, “The ambitions are strong with this one,” a way of speaking that I would understand with age… and Star Wars. 

At the mere age of 19, I ventured to New Mexico where I met my husband, Ruben, a dedicated service member of the U.S. Air Force where he served for over two decades. Together, we have two children: Jackson and Ophelia. He quite literally took us around the globe! I am so incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to not only interact with, but to coexist with, different walks of life.

Despite the constraints endured by military families, I refused to give up on my education. From New Mexico State University, I hold an AA, AA Education, AS, BA History, BA English with undergraduate minors in Medieval Studies and Religious Studies, MA Multicultural Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction, a TESOL Graduate Certificate, and a Master’s in Public Health. From Marshall University I hold an RBA (Geography focus) with undergraduate minors in Philosophy, Women’s Studies, and Geography as well as a Human Geography Graduate Certificate. I have taught in America’s public school districts, as well as DODEA (America’s overseas schools that service military students) in some capacity since 2014. I am licensed to teach secondary English and Social Studies. I thoroughly enjoy research and writing. Presently, I am a graduate assistant at New Mexico State University. I worked as a graduate research assistant for the Chicano Programs as well. My colleague and I created a ToolKit for pre-service teachers, detailing educational legislation and how to become a culturally responsive educator in diverse locations.

At New Mexico State University, I was honored to be an officer for various honors societies: Gamma Beta Phi, Sigma Alpha Lambda, Phi Theta Kappa, and Phi Alpha Theta. We worked to give back to the community, particularly by volunteering our time at the local food pantry in Las Cruces and creating family-friendly events for college students with children! At Marshall University, I was inducted into the National Society of ACTA Scholars where my hard work and dedication in rigorous liberal arts studies was recognized. In addition to volunteering with the honors societies, I have also served as an officer for other organizations, most notable Cub Scouts. From 2016-2018, I volunteered with the Far East Council, Pack 109, as my son was the first kindergarten class to be welcomed into Cub Scouts! From 2018-2022, I volunteered with the Colonial Virginia Council, Pack 11. I enjoy working with our youth and working to make our planet a safe environment for generations to come. I am particularly interested in working with military children considering the unique obstacles they face on a daily basis; providing a sense of normalcy for these children and their families is important to me. During the summer of 2021, I interned with New Mexico State University’s Military and Veteran Programs. I assisted in updating and creating literature for veterans and their families; community outreach resources included, but were not limited to, food insecurities, housing, childcare, and education. 

Education is a life-long commitment, one that I find I enjoy very much. Presently, I am wrapping up a MS Environmental Health and Safety with a graduate minor in History from Marshall University and a MA English Professional and Technical Communication from New Mexico State University. Upon completion of these studies, I am eager to announce that my long-awaited PhD journey will commence! 

My educational and career journey, while rewarding, has been trying as well. As a military spouse, I continually put my husband’s career before my own. I am proud of my husband’s accomplishments, and I would gladly stand behind him again, but now that he has retired, I am able to pursue my own dreams and truly, we need change.

Having experienced the varied quality of education across different settings, including the impact of global mobility on my own child’s schooling, I have grown increasingly concerned about the challenges facing our education system. My oldest child, born in 2011, has attended seven schools throughout his lifetime; during the height of the global pandemic, he was homeschooled. I have seen first-hand as a parent and as an educator how America’s public school systems fail so many students, especially after living abroad in Japan. Moving to Florida from the North was difficult too. I absolutely resisted sending my children to public school in Florida. I recognize the unique advantage that my family has compared to other families throughout the county who are, unfortunately, still enduring the wrath of Hurricane Michael and COVID-19. I am equipped with both the skills and the time to homeschool my children whereas others are not. At the end of the day, all a parent wants is to ensure that their child(ren) is receiving the best education possible in a safe, nurturing environment. This has been heavy on my heart and my mind for nearly two years now. Knowing that we are here to stay, I knew I had to do something. Coupled with the testimonials of disgruntled parents throughout the county and my youngest entering the public school system come fall, I decided that the change needs to happen; thus, my decision to run for Bay County’s School Board in District 1! 

As your representative, I commit to utilizing every resource at my disposal to transform the Bay County School District into a model of excellence statewide, particularly in accommodating every student. This includes effectively responding to the increasing diversity and needs of military families as Tyndall Air Force Base undergoes reconstruction. I have zero tolerance for bias. I understand, and instill in my children, the principle that while everyone has the right to their own opinions, this does not negate the validity of others' perspectives and worries. I am committed to hearing from all involved parties—parents, students, staff, and more—to make certain that everyone's voice is acknowledged.