Valerie Nicolaides
Feb 17, 2023 10:47AM ● By Verlene Johnson
Valerie Nicolaides
Valerie Nicolaides was born and raised in Morgan. After graduating from Morgan High School she started her degree at Weber State University.
Nicolaides loved working as a substitute teacher and an aide working with struggling students, so she decided to go back to and complete her degree at Western Governors University.
In 2021, Nicolaides started her teaching career at Morgan Elementary School and is currently in her second year teaching first grade.
“I love helping students see their potential,” said Nicolaides of teaching. “They get so excited about things and that enthusiasm is contagious. I love when the lightbulb goes off and they understand something they didn’t before. It is the best feeling watching that happen.”
Nicolaides met her husband, Aaron, while attending WSU. They have been married for 28 years. He is a mental health therapist and owns Therapeuo Health. Together they have four kids. Jordan is a medical assistant at the Morgan Health Center. Lexi and her husband Phil live in Southern California where she is an accountant and he recently finished his contract in the Marine Corps and is working as a dog trainer. Alli is a certified Foot Zone Practitioner and is also going to WSU. Josh is a senior at Morgan High School who loves running with the Cross Country and Track teams.
After living away from Morgan for 20 years in places like Evanston, Wyoming; Manti, Utah; and Henderson, Nevada; Nicolaides moved back to Morgan in 2020. “It is so nice to be close to family again,” she said. “I also love being back near the mountains. Morgan is such a beautiful place and I try to recognize and enjoy the beauty every day.”
In her spare time, Nicolaides loves to be outside walking, hiking or on a paddle board at the many beautiful lakes around our area. “I love spending time with my family, especially in the mountains or on the beach.”