Tie-collector, avid golfer, high school prom king. The non-academic side of our teachers hardly ever reveals itself, and even less so with administrators. Introducing the Winged Post’s admin feature series – look out for a different administrator Q&A in each issue.

The Winged Post: What is the most memorable moment you’ve had as a teacher and as an admin?

Chris Nikoloff: The two things that come to mind are when I used to teach the Greek Myths to sixth graders at my old school. I really got a lot of joy from that, because of how they reacted to the stories, and how excited they got about the characters. It was really close to pure joy in that the kids were enjoying [themselves] and I was enjoying sharing that. As an administrator, I always get sentimental at performances or assemblies where the entire school is together and there happens to be a song that somebody is performing really well and it feels like we’re all rowing in the same direction for about thirty seconds.

WP: What group did you spend time with in high school? What type of student were you?

CN: I could cross over through many groups. I spent a lot of time with the smart kids, but I also spent a lot of time and occasionally got into trouble with the more athletic kids. I was not a very good athlete. I didn’t identify with any one group.

WP: What was your proudest moment in high school?

CN: Oh, it’s corny, but I was elected king of my prom. It’s silly that I’m proud of that, but I’m hoping that it wasn’t a popularity contest. I did make an effort to cross many groups, and I’m hoping that was kind of recognized. I don’t like the popularity contest aspect of it… but hey, this guy isn’t an axe-murderer. It’s kind of silly, but it was nice to be recognized.

WP: What was your proudest moment as teacher? As an administrator?

CN: There’s no one single moment. It is back to seeing joy and genuine interest on the students’ face. My proudest moments as an administrator… [are] in those moments when it really looks like students and families are getting what they need from the school. Finding their passions, growing and learning.

WP: What inspired you to pursue education? Was the inspiration from a culmination of time or from one specific moment or person?

CN: Probably just really good teachers, both in high school and college. You look at them and think, I’d like to do what they’re doing. And the other thing is just I really love learning, and I want to share that with young people.

WP: Was becoming an administrator one of your goals when you first became involved in education?

CN: It really wasn’t. I really just wanted to be a teacher, and be the best teacher that I could be. I just kept wanting the schools that I worked at to run better. Simple as that – even though I was a teacher, and that’s all I wanted to be, I wanted the schools in which I worked to run better, so I kept getting involved in assignments, and making recommendations, and exploring how this could be better.

WP: If you weren’t an admin, what job would you want to have now?

CN: That’s a really good question. Professional golfer is one. Professional musician… I played the drums and the guitar most of my life, badly. Running a coffee shop in San Francisco.

WP: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

CN: Stay present. It’s a philosophical thing, but really try to stay in the moment. You guys are worried about the upcoming year, you’re worried about colleges, you’re thinking about those mistakes you made [earlier]… It’s hard to live right now. So that’s the best piece of advice [I’ve been given]; I’m not saying that I follow it. To not judge the moment, to live in the moment.

WP: We know you’re famous around Harker for your many ties. Where did this interest stem from?

CN: Just wanting to have something that’s not so corporate-looking – we work with kids, and unfortunately I need to up my collection a little bit.

WP: How many ties do you own?

CN: I really don’t [have a count]. The myth is that I have 180, one for every different school day… and it’s probably true. I like the Jerry Garcia brand… [and] I get them mostly as gifts. I’m still accepting, by the way.

WP: How long have you been golfing? What do you like about the sport?

CN: Probably 15 years. Something that everyone can relate to is just being outdoors in a beautiful setting, and completely blocking out everything and being with nature.

WP: What talent do you wish you were born with?

CN: Singing. Yes, really wish I could sing. I enjoy musicals, but you wouldn’t want me to star in one.

WP: If you had an extra hour every day, how would you spend it?

CN: Another hour with my sons [Alexander, 4, and Anthony, 2]. Not sure they would like it.

WP: What is your biggest pet peeve?

CN: Most of them are about myself, but… I guess when you buy something and they give you the dollar bills and they put the change on top. I’m not terribly easy to annoy.

WP: What is number one on your bucket list?

CN: More travel. I really hope to travel more before I kick the bucket. There are a lot of other things I want to do, but it’s a more bucket list kind of thing. Africa, parts of Asia. I’ve done a lot of Europe, but just places that we don’t normally go.