Polk County Public Schools
Keyword for this page: Superintendent
Please use the form below to contact the Superintendent, Dr. Sherrie Nickell, with any suggestions, comments, or questions.
Dr. Sherrie B. Nickell is Polk County Public Schools’ Superintendent who has worked in the field of education since 1979. She has completed degrees at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels and has served as superintendent since November of 2010. Dr. Nickell previously served as Associate Superintendent for Learning at Polk’s school district and her portfolio of responsibility consisted of the supervision of several departments including K-12 Reading; Assessment, Accountability and Evaluation; Professional Development; Career and Technical Education; Exceptional Student Education; Federal Programs; Fine Arts; English for Speakers of Other Languages; Student Services; Grants; and all the curricular areas. She also served nine years in the capacity of classroom teacher; nine years as a school-based administrator; and seven years as Director of Professional Development during which time she supervised 18 schools throughout Polk County. As a former professor of graduate school, she has mentored hundreds of educators who have aspired to seek educational leadership positions.
Dr. Nickell has worked in various capacities at public and private schools in Alabama, Michigan and Florida and strongly believes that we must ensure that what is important is taught; what is taught is learned and what is learned leads to opportunity. She is a collaborative leader and realizes that the power of partnerships is paramount.
She remains resolute toward fostering a culture of discipline, professionalism, integrity and trust within the school district with the expectation of cultivating and sustaining intentional excellence for the benefits of all students.
Some of the highlights and recognition that the District has achieved during her superintendence include the College Board’s District of the Year Award, support from the Ford Foundation and the procurement of hundreds of thousands of grant dollars awarded from a variety of sources.
Dr. Nickell serves on a variety of local community and educational boards and committees. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of South Florida in 2005 and Southeastern University’s 2007 Servant Leader of the Year Award. She was recently awarded the 2012 Unsung Hero Award from the Lakeland Chapter of the NAACP and the 2012 Bronze Leadership Award from Junior Achievement.Address: 1915 South Floral Avenue,
Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: (863) 534-0521
Fax: (863) 519-8231
Email: Sherrie Nickell