Nicole Oliver graduated from Fordham University at Lincoln Center with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance. After graduating, Nicole worked as an actor doing regional theatre and Theatre for Young Audience contract companies. She found her love of teaching after performing in the Kaleidoscope Theatre Festival in Aberdeen Scotland.  It was there in which she was given the opportunity to teach some local youngsters a basic theatre workshop.  She quickly realized that she may have found her calling.  She went on to develop children’s programming with regional theatre company, The Forum Theatre in Metuchen, NJ, while actively pursuing a teaching position. She was hired as a drama teacher by the Jersey City Public School system in 2004, the 2nd largest district in the state of NJ.  Nicole was given the honor of “Jersey City Public Schools Teacher of the Year” for the 2016 – 2017 school year.

About the Program
The Conwell Kidz Drama Program began in 2004 at Frank R. Conwell Elementary School (PS3) located in Downtown Jersey City. The program consists of students from grades 3 – 5 who are selected by an audition panel.  The program is a part of a S.T.E.A.M. block that meets 2 times a week during the school day, and after school as needed. In addition to performing 2 musicals a year, students have the opportunity to join the Core Group, which meets an additional day a week during S.T.E.A.M. class.  Those students receive intensive conservatory-type training and perform locally at community events (I Love JC Festival, All About Downtown Festival, Groove on Grove, Teacher of the Year Ceremony, Mayor Fulop’s inauguration, etc.).